Позитивные изменения. Том 2, № 1 (2022). Positive changes. Volume 2, Issue 1 (2022)

"That phrase really appealed to me: "Don't worry, they can do everything just like you". On the contrary, I began to worry. Damn, they can do everything just like us and they don't get everything. I have a feeling they could do some parts in a normal classical play, some funny 60s weirdos with a guitar. You have to go from organic, I can't say that I would have taken any of them for the role of Romeo, but the point is that I was exactly over-excited as to why they don't give this one".

"I definitely had an interest, a curiosity. Not like a freak show, but just curious to see what happens next. And just to see the actors and how they would act. And a little bit, or not even a little, it was like being on another planet. And exclusively in a good sense, i.e. the other world of these people, and I wanted to learn how it is arranged and yes, I also joined, I wanted to understand how this sun should work. And what is the essence there. Well, it seems that these are questions to which no one needs to know the answers".

The participants of the discussion criticized the presentation of the image of a person with Down syndrome. The most common image is the so-called "sunny children”. But according to viewers this is a stereotype, which, in fact, is not always true.

Nevertheless, the audience appreciated the play's ability to influence attitudes towards people with Down syndrome quite highly. Both in the individual answers to the questions and in the discussion itself, there were frequent references to universal values that the viewer can notice during the play. The play itself was perceived not only as a way to introduce society to people with Down syndrome and not only as an attempt to include people with mental problems in theater activities. Much more importantly, the play awakens the audience themselves to reconsider life values. The impression is that as the actors with Down's syndrome got to know each other, people redefined their perceptions and ideas about life. And, as the discussion shows, people have experienced very different emotions during the play, ranging from sadness, confusion, and awkwardness to interest, curiosity, surprise and joy.

After watching the film and the performance many of the audience felt a desire to get involved in social projects, to reduce the distance with people with Down syndrome, to get to know them better. The training had a similar effect: 56 % of the respondents changed their attitude towards people with Down syndrome, and half of the training participants are going to apply the received knowledge in practice. The main revelation for the training participants was the nature of people with Down syndrome, their openness and ability to communicate.

It is clear that the trainings help to reduce the social and communicative distance between the project audience and the beneficiaries. After completing the training, the participants have a desire to communicate more, to learn more about people with disabilities, to work on themselves, to develop in the social sphere and to get acquainted with the Mutual Action projects.

Both the play, the film and the training provoked not only positive emotions among the participants in the study, but also a desire to do something for the benefit of the project. The willingness to act was most clearly expressed by the training participants.

CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK