Ana Victoria Espino had to change universities because at the first one she was discriminated against for having Down syndrome. Before that, she had already completed high school online for the same reason: the traditional education system was not prepared to include her.
In Zacatecas, Mexico, she found an institution that did accept her. With the constant support of her family and a shadow teacher who accompanied her for five years, she completed the full degree program. Today, at 25 years old, Ana Victoria is the first person with Down syndrome in the world to earn a law degree.
While studying, she took part in legislative forums to raise awareness of the discrimination experienced by people with disabilities in education systems. Now foundations in Spain, Peru, and Chile seek her out to advise on inclusion policies, and she is already thinking about taking the next step: entering politics so that no one else has to change schools in order to learn.
