Rebel Girls Dads & Daughters: 25 Tales of Teamwork and Fun

Rebel Girls Dads & Daughters: 25 Tales of Teamwork and Fun — page 5
6 ALBA AND LUCA TRAPANESE CONTENT CREATORS AND DISABILITY ADVOCATES Once there was a little girl named Alba who loved to spend time with her dad Luca Together they danced and sang read books and played dress up Their little family was built differently than some but their happiness felt exactly the same When Alba was born her mother put her up for adoption But it was a little tricky to find the perfect family for Alba because she had a disability Alba was born with a genetic condition called Down syndrome Some kids with Down syndrome have medical problems or developmental delays People with Down syndrome are often excellent visual learners and very social With support many succeed in school have lots of friends and work at rewarding jobs when they grow up Enter Luca Trapanese Luca had a deep desire to be a dad But strict adoption laws in Italy made it hard for a gay single man like Luca to adopt a child Luca refused to give up One day he heard about a baby girl named Alba Other families didn't think they could care for Alba because of her disability Luca had volunteered at nonprofit organizations for people with disabilities such as Down syndrome for many years He knew he could provide an excellent home for a child with a disability He immediately applied to adopt Alba Luca waited and waited Finally he got the call he'd been hoping for his application was accepted He was going to be a dad Luca rushed to the hospital With trembling fingers he scooped Alba into his arms His heart was filled with joy as he looked down into her bright sparkling eyes Today Luca speaks out for people just like him and Alba kids with disabilities single dads and gay parents advocating for their wholehearted acceptance ALBA BORN JULY 2017 LUCA BORN JANUARY 14 1977 ITALY