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Campaign Wat ass normal?

Ministère de la Famille, des Solidarités, du Vivre ensemble et de l'Accueil

2021

Our 2021 Watassnormal campaign took a revolutionary approach to promoting inclusion. We partnered with individuals living with disabilities, inviting them to become the protagonists of our narrative. Each participant embodied a character with a distinct characteristic, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.

Charlie and his soft spot for red dolphins

Transcription Show

Den Charlie (trisomique), 25 Joer al, sëtzt bei engem Dësch a moolt.

ERZÄHLER
Dat do ass de Charlie. De Charlie huet vill verschidden Hobby’en: an de Musée goen, seng Liblingsband live gesinn, mat de Kolleege Fussball spillen, awer och an de Kino goen. Mee wat de Charlie am aller léifste mécht ass molen. Eppes wësst dir awer nach net vum Charlie. Hie moolt am léifste rout Delfinen, eng Kombinatioun aus senger Liblingsfaarf a sengem Liblingsdéier. Net normal sot dir? Mee wat ass dann normal?

De Charlie moolt weider an engem klenge Bichelchen.

Narrator
Eppes wësst dir awer nach net vum Charlie. Hie moolt am léifste rout Delfinen, eng Kombinatioun aus senger Liblingsfaarf a sengem Liblingsdéier.

De Charlie bliedert duerch säi Buch an et gesäit een effektiv nëmmen rout Delfinen.

Narrator
Net normal sot dir? Mee wat ass dann normal?

Take Charlie, for instance. On the surface, he’s a culture enthusiast with a passion for museums, concerts, and cinema. He enjoys football and spends his free time painting, with a particular fondness for an unusual motif: red dolphins.
But Charlie’s story goes deeper. His real name is Tom, and he has Trisomy 21, commonly known as Down syndrome. While he still lives with his parents, Tom strives for independence, holding down a job and managing many aspects of his life autonomously. He’s also a TikTok aficionado, relishing the opportunity to express himself through video.

This approach allowed us to showcase the multifaceted nature of individuals with disabilities, highlighting their interests, passions, and everyday lives rather than focusing solely on their conditions. By intertwining reality with crafted narratives, we created relatable, authentic stories that challenged perceptions and redefined ‘normal’.

Marie's prank calls (with sign language)

Transcription Show

D’Marie, eng Fra am Rollstull mat Tattooss, sëtzt am Restaurant. Mir gesi si vun hannen. Si ass um Telefon.

Narrator
Dat do ass d’Marie. D’Marie ass immens gär um Telefon.
Net nëmmen fir Angry Birds ze spillen oder Instagram Stories ze posten. Nee, d’Marie schwätzt am allerléifsten mat Kolleegen um Telefon.

D’Marie bliedert duerch e faarwegt Heft mat lauter Notizzen etc… a mat ganz villen Telefonsnummeren. Et gëtt eng Nummer a s in Telefon an a rifft engem un. Mir gesi wéi et um Telefon mat engem schwätzt.

Narrator
Dem Marie säin Telefonsbuch ass säi gréisste Schatz, net nëmme well et do all senge Kolleegen hir Telefonsnummere sammelt zanter et kleng ass, mä well et wierklech JIDDERENGEM seng Telefonsnummer sammelt. D’Marie verbréngt am Léifsten seng fräi Deeg mat Telefonsgecker. Hatt hat scho relativ vill där Prankcalls. Seng bekanntsten Affere bis lo: D’Schleck Bridder, de Xavier Bettel a souguer den Tommy Schlesser.

D’Marie bliedert a schwätzt weider um Telefon. D’Kamera schwenkt ob d’Säit, do setzt een z’iessen. De Mann kuckt perplexe an d’Kamera wéi wann hien och d’Voice-Over héieren hätt: et ass den Tommy Schlesser! Zeréck bei d’Marie.

Narrator
Net normal mengt dir?

Marie
Wat ass dann schon normal?

On the surface, Marie is a quintessential phone enthusiast. She’s rarely seen without her beloved device, whether she’s conquering levels in Angry Birds, sharing her life through Instagram stories, or indulging in her favorite pastime – chatting with friends and occasionally pulling off harmless phone pranks. Her prized possession? A meticulously curated phonebook filled with numbers she’s collected, including those of some notable personalities.

But Marie’s story runs deeper. In reality, she’s Carine, a young woman whose life took an unexpected turn after a car accident left her paraplegic. Before the accident, Carine was a passionate dancer and a self-proclaimed night owl. She even performed in a band and lived for the thrill of nights out.
Despite the life-altering event, Carine’s spirit remains unbroken. She doesn’t view her wheelchair as an obstacle, but rather as a tool that enables her daily life. Her story is one of adaptation and finding new ways to connect and express herself.

The Watassnormal campaign didn’t just tell stories about inclusion – it lived them, proving that everyone has a unique tale to tell, regardless of ability or disability.

Redefining Normal Through Inclusive Design

Our 2021 campaign website didn’t just talk about inclusion—it embodied it. With meticulous attention to accessibility, we crafted a digital space that welcomes all users, regardless of ability. From high-contrast options and intuitive keyboard navigation to image descriptions and video transcripts, every element was thoughtfully implemented. The addition of a dark mode caters to diverse perceptual needs, including those with Asperger Syndrome. Watassnormal isn’t just a website; it’s a testament to our commitment to making the digital world accessible to everyone, proving that inclusive design is simply good design.

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