**About Me — Thiago Ribeiro**
I am Thiago Ribeiro, a documentary photographer, human rights activist, and storyteller driven by the urgent need to amplify voices silenced by systemic racism and social inequality. Over the past decade, my work has centered on the intersection of racial justice, disability rights, and the raw humanity of marginalized communities. My journey as a photographer is deeply personal: it began with the birth of my son Noah, a Black child with Down syndrome, whose life inspired me to confront the invisibility and racial disparities faced by people like him.
### **Career & Impact**
My signature project, *InvisibiliDOWN: Essays on Racism and Down Syndrome*, is a groundbreaking documentary series that exposes how structural racism cuts the life expectancy of Black individuals with Down syndrome by 50%, due to systemic barriers to healthcare, therapies, and societal recognition. This project has been exhibited at the *Museum of Tomorrow (Rio de Janeiro)*, the *36th Brasília Book Fair*, and the *São Paulo Barrier-Free Festival*, among others. It was named one of the **50 Best Documentary Photography Projects in Latin America (2022)** by the Latin American Photography Foundation and earned me the **Talentos da Diversidade Award (2022)** and the **Pretas Potências Award in Visual Arts (2023)**.
My signature project, *InvisibiliDOWN: Essays on Racism and Down Syndrome*, is a groundbreaking documentary series that exposes how structural racism cuts the life expectancy of Black individuals with Down syndrome by 50%, due to systemic barriers to healthcare, therapies, and societal recognition. This project has been exhibited at the *Museum of Tomorrow (Rio de Janeiro)*, the *36th Brasília Book Fair*, and the *São Paulo Barrier-Free Festival*, among others. It was named one of the **50 Best Documentary Photography Projects in Latin America (2022)** by the Latin American Photography Foundation and earned me the **Talentos da Diversidade Award (2022)** and the **Pretas Potências Award in Visual Arts (2023)**.
In 2022, I founded the *InvisibiliDOWN Institute*, an organization dedicated to advocacy, education, and policy change for Black individuals with Down syndrome. We’ve launched Brazil’s first national research on racial disparities in Down syndrome care, published guides for vulnerable families, and pioneered the concept of “Inclusive Racism,” a term I coined to describe how racism permeates even ostensibly inclusive spaces.
### **Awards & Recognition**
- **Latin American Photography Foundation Award** (2022)
- **Talentos da Diversidade Award** (2022)
- **1st Pretas Potências Award in Visual Arts** (2023)
- Featured in *National Geographic Brasil*, *The Guardian*, *Estadão*, *TV Cultura*, and over 20 national and international media outlets.
- **Latin American Photography Foundation Award** (2022)
- **Talentos da Diversidade Award** (2022)
- **1st Pretas Potências Award in Visual Arts** (2023)
- Featured in *National Geographic Brasil*, *The Guardian*, *Estadão*, *TV Cultura*, and over 20 national and international media outlets.
### **Speaking & Advocacy**
I’ve lectured at the **Paranapiacaba Photography Festival (2022)**, **Belas Artes University**, and the **12th International Down Syndrome Symposium (2023)**. My advocacy has taken me to Brazil’s National Congress, where I testified at a **2023 Public Hearing on Art and Inclusion**, and to global platforms like the **Fiocruz Debates** and **UNICEF’s Primeira Infância Antirracista** program. I also serve as an ambassador for the **Instituto Jô Clemente** (formerly APAE-SP) and sit on committees for the Brazilian Federation of Down Syndrome Associations.
I’ve lectured at the **Paranapiacaba Photography Festival (2022)**, **Belas Artes University**, and the **12th International Down Syndrome Symposium (2023)**. My advocacy has taken me to Brazil’s National Congress, where I testified at a **2023 Public Hearing on Art and Inclusion**, and to global platforms like the **Fiocruz Debates** and **UNICEF’s Primeira Infância Antirracista** program. I also serve as an ambassador for the **Instituto Jô Clemente** (formerly APAE-SP) and sit on committees for the Brazilian Federation of Down Syndrome Associations.
### **Why I Do This**
Every photograph I take, every lecture I deliver, and every policy I challenge is a step toward dismantling the silence around racial and ableist injustice. My son Noah is my compass—his resilience reminds me daily that visibility is not a privilege, but a right. Through my lens and my voice, I strive to ensure that no one else is forced to exist in the shadows.
Every photograph I take, every lecture I deliver, and every policy I challenge is a step toward dismantling the silence around racial and ableist injustice. My son Noah is my compass—his resilience reminds me daily that visibility is not a privilege, but a right. Through my lens and my voice, I strive to ensure that no one else is forced to exist in the shadows.
**Let’s build a world where every life is seen, valued, and celebrated.**