Down syndrome fashion show highlights talents

In his office at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, Executive Director Jim Jarvis has photos from his days as an actor working with the likes of Tina Fey from TV's "30 Rock" and Saturday Night Live's Amy Poehler, among others.

Their gigs together never rattled him, but along comes one that makes him nervous: Jarvis will debut with his 2-year-old son, Wil, at the third annual fashion show to benefit the National Association for Down Syndrome.

The event takes place Sunday, Oct. 19, and typically draws nearly 800 supporters who fill the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Its timing, in the middle of October, comes during Down Syndrome Awareness month.

"Suddenly, I have to walk down a runway with my son, and I'm getting nervous," Jarvis says. "I really need to start watching some of those fashion TV shows, to get some tips."

In a more serious moment, Jarvis said it wasn't exactly a hard sell to get him to do it. For one thing, his wife, Tanya, volunteered him. But both say they are avid supporters of NASD, whose members reached out to them when Wil was born.

They didn't find out about their son's Down syndrome until the day he was born. Their journey since then, from learning about the condition, meeting other families, and promoting his abilities to those they meet, has been enlightening.

"When the doctor told us three hours after he was born that he probably wasn't going to survive the day, it puts life into perspective for you," Jarvis says.

Once Wil's health problems stabilized, he started to thrive, the couple says, and now as an energetic toddler, who runs instead of walks, they can't imagine life without him.

"He's got this amazing, outgoing personality that just attracts people to him," Jarvis says of his only son. "It seems like wherever we go, people come up to us to interact with Wil.

"Then they end up asking if he has Down syndrome and actually ask us questions about it, which is such a cool phenomenon," Jarvis says. "Our son has become this unofficial ambassador for Down syndrome."

Look for that role to expand at the popular fashion show, though they won't be the only ones profiled.

Parent volunteer Gail Anderson of Naperville says more than 50 models will take to the runway, including persons of all ages with Down syndrome, most along with a sibling or parent.

"It's our opportunity to highlight individuals with Down syndrome," Anderson says, "and share their stories."

They include Angie Picci, 25, of Streamwood, appearing with her boyfriend, Michael Contaldo of Sleepy Hollow. Both have Down syndrome.

Picci and her mother, Linda, participate in NADS' hospital development program, where they speak to hospital staff members about the abilities of persons with Down syndrome, and how to support parents of newborns.

Another model, Julia Smarto, 13, of Bartlett will perform in a hip hop number with other teens with Down syndrome who train at Center Stage in Bloomingdale.

They all will be wearing trendy new outfits from Macy's, picked out by the models themselves.

The Jarvis tandem will be sporting distressed leather jackets, long sleeved white shirts and jeans, while spiking up their hair in matching Mohawks.

"We're going with the cool, kind of rock star casual look," Jarvis quips, adding that they're already working on their runway moves.

He needn't worry too much, about his fashion debut. All eyes will be on his son, naturally.