Twitter Post Featuring a Young 'Moana' Fan With Down Syndrome Got Dwayne Johnson's Attention
![[Left] A little girl with Down's syndrome beams in the photo. [Right] A headshot of the Rock smiling](https://themighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Untitled-design-16-2-1280x427.png.webp?v=1587744265 "Twitter Post About Down Syndrome Gets Dwayne Johnson's Attention")
Post updated on Feb. 27 to include quotes from Jason Kneen.
On Thursday, Twitter user Jason Kneen shared an adorable picture of his smiling daughter, Rosie, with the caption:
“‘My child has Down’s Syndrome, what should I expect?’ This. 100 percent this.”
“My child has Down’s Syndrome, what should I expect?”
This. 100% this. pic.twitter.com/vo0Bu0Eoxp
— Jason Kneen (@jasonkneen) February 21, 2019
His tweet went viral, with more than 8,500 retweets and 89,000 likes. The thread contains pictures and stories from other parents who in turn are sharing the joys and triumphs of having a child with Down syndrome.
While many of the replies to Kneen’s tweet have been positive, not all of them were. However, that didn’t stop Kneen from using his Twitter thread as an opportunity to promote Down syndrome awareness, inviting the world into their lives.
Kneen shared more of Rosie’s story and recounted a time, during Christmas and New Year 2017, when Rosie had to be admitted to the hospital. It’s then that Rosie got hooked on the popular Disney film “Moana,” which features Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as the charismatic character Maui.
“Rosie and I became thick as thieves over that time and watched Moana together many times and every single day,” he wrote. “Thanks @TheRock for teaching me all the songs.”
Kneen tagged Johnson in his tweet about Rosie’s love of “Moana” and one more time on another picture of Rosie saying, “Rosebud home from school, having her teatime and watching Moana, AGAIN. @therock has a lot to answer for.”
Rosebud home from school, having her teatime and watching Moana, AGAIN. @therock has a lot to answer for. ???? pic.twitter.com/yNhXDEdRun
— Jason Kneen (@jasonkneen) February 25, 2019
The following day, Johnson responded to Kneen’s post and replied, “Look at this lovely cookie. Stay strong Rosie! Uncle Maui loves ya. What can I saaaay except you’re welcome.”
Look at this lovely cookie. Stay strong Rosie! Uncle Maui loves ya????
What can I saaaaayy except you’re welcome ???? https://t.co/C9kuzPfCKQ— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) February 23, 2019
Not only does Rosie love “Moana,” but she can now claim Maui as her uncle, and Kneen provided a peek into the world of parenting a child with Down syndrome.
Kneen told The Mighty hearing from Johnson felt amazing, “We keep telling [Rosie] uncle Maui says hi, but she’s oblivious to all the attention she’s getting.” Rosie has now been featured in a clip for BBC Point West and Kneen said Rosie did enjoy watching herself on television.
Such a lovely day filming this beautiful little girl Rosie. She has become a bit of an internet hit because her dad @jasonkneen shared his joys of being her dad. And got a message from @TheRock too! @bbcpointswest @benpratershow pic.twitter.com/NI6URTpRGJ
— Ali Vowles (@AliRVowles) February 26, 2019
Kneen said they are pleased with the coverage his tweet is getting as other families are also sharing their photos and stories, “The positivity in that thread and around it has been truly amazing and inspiring!”
The thread clearly shows that parents know their kids with Down syndrome are living life to the fullest and raising a child with Down syndrome is not that different from raising a child without a disability.
Banner images via Jason Kneen twitter post and Wikimedia Commons/Eva Rinaldi
Ellen Stumbo is the founder of Disability Matters, an organization with the mission to encourage every church to embrace disability. Ellen is a national speaker who focuses on issues pertaining adoption, faith, disability and parenting kids with disabilities. Ellen writes for several online platforms including Focus on the Family, LifeWay, MomSense, Not Alone, Mamapedia, Group, The Mighty and the Huffington Post. Her writing also appears in several book anthologies. Ellen blogs at ellenstumbo.com and you can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.
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