Earlier this year, 25-year-old Mexican woman Ana Victoria Espino De Santiago became the first lawyer in Zacatecas, and reportedly in all of Latin America, with Down syndrome.
Born in Guadalupe, Zacatecas, she received her law degree in July from Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas and hopes to pursue a career as a legislator and disabled rights advocate, La Jornada de Zacatecas reported.
“I really like law for defending people with disabilities and people’s rights and defending my personal rights,” she told NTR TV based in Zacatecas.
“[To] help people with disabilities, help those who do not have a voice, because that is why I am a lawyer.”.
Espino grew up with a strong family network including her parents and three siblings, which has been the foundation of her educational and professional careers.
It recommends that educators be supportive, listen to their students and offer additional support when needed,” Espino told the newspaper.
Few of them believed that she would be able to graduate, let alone pass her classes, because of her Down syndrome. »