Olivia Wilde Stars in World Down Syndrome Day PSA #HowDoYouSeeMe

Olivia Wilde and Special Olympics athlete AnnaRose Rubright star together in this touching PSA to raise awareness for World Down Syndrome Day. Rubright narrates what it’s like to live with Down syndrome as the video cuts to Wilde portraying Rubright’s experiences singing, laughing and following her dreams. “This is how I see myself,” Rubright says. “How do you see me?”

PSA Stokes Online Backlash

Quickly after the video posted, Emily Ladau wrote an editorial for The Daily Beast, attacking the ad for “erasing” the girl from the video who was supposed to be the focal point. The intention of the commercial was to highlight the accomplishments of people like Rubright, who said she’s been “slapped with unfair misconceptions her whole life.” “It makes me feel sad and disappointed,” Rubright told the Washington Post. “I’m not treated with respect and I’m not treated as if I’m important.” On the flip side, the PSA has also received a wave of praise online, with parents thanking Wilde for her work and sharing cute pictures, like the one below.

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The #HowDoYouSeeMe Campaign

“How Do You See Me?” was directed by Reed Morano, the director of “Vinyl,” and created by CoorDown, an Italian organization for people with Down syndrome. “Once again, CoorDown is proud to lead an ambitious global awareness campaign,” CoorDown Onlus president Sergio Silvestre said. “Every year we strive to break down barriers and to create a culture of inclusion for people with Down syndrome.” You can learn more about the organization and the #HowDoYouSeeMe campaign here.