Mar Galcerán Spain's First Parliamentarian with Down Syndrome

SEAToday.com, Madrid - Mar Galcerán has made history in Spain. She became the first member of parliament with Down syndrome in the country.

But the journey was not an instant process. The 45-year-old joined the conservative People’s party (PP) when she was 18 years old. Slowly she worked her way up the party apparatus. Her commitment paid off last May when she was added as the 20th name on the list of candidates the PP was fielding in Valencia’s regional elections.

In Spain, she is known as an activist who has been active in raising the issue of Down syndrome. For more than 20 years Galcerán had worked as a civil servant in Valencia, most recently helping to carve out inclusive policy, adding to the four years she spent at the helm of Asindown, a Valencian organization dedicated to helping families with children that have Down’s syndrome.

Galcerán's success became an important milestone for people with certain genetic conditions to prove their ability to govern and find success in politics.