Greatest Person: Roslyn Downing is an Officer, Activist, Mother and More

Roslyn Downing said that her daughter’s diagnosis of cerebral palsy seemed like a “dream-crusher” at the time.

Fourteen years later, Downing, a police officer in the Philadelphia 35th District and resident of Chestnut Hill, has taken that bad news and turned it into a long list of positives.

“Regardless, she was my little bundle of joy. It’s challenging, but I keep fighting for educational rights, for her to be in the proper school. People assume that you automatically have to accept the outcome of what the professionals tell you,” Downing said. “But she’s my daughter. I’m the one living with her and I know what she is capable of.”

It took time, and support from her family, but Downing was able to get the right  doctors, therapists and school for her daughter, Khmaia.

Khmaia found a new learning environment at the Widener Memorial School, for students with physical and mental disabilities.

“All the love my daughter receives, and she receives a lot of love, a lot of children at the school may not receive as much love and attention,” Downing said.

Because of this, Downing started a program, pairing her fellow police officers with students at the middle school. The program, Widener Heroes, gives each student a mentor.

“Every kid had their own hero and they were paired up perfectly. We did questionnaires with the officers and with the children to match up their interests,” Downing said.

If starting Widener Heroes wasn’t enough to make Downing a hero in her own right, she has also begun working on a magazine to help educate parents of children with disabilities. The magazine is called “Real,” and gives advice on everything from finding the right therapists and doctors, to dealing with insurance companies, as well as highlighting the inspiring stories of the children.

“This month, on the cover, we’re going to have the kids from Widener and all of their equipment, not just their walkers and wheelchairs, but their sports gear. And they will all be smiling,” Downing said. “These kids smile; of course they do, they’re kids. I don’t want it to be a sad story. I’m excited about my daughter.”

While Downing works a full-time job, organizes Widener Heroes, works on her magazine and spends time with Khmaia and her two older sons, she also attends to get a degree in Criminal Justice and is president of the Home and School Association at her daughter’s school.

Time is, of course, an issue, and Downing said she couldn’t do it without the help and support of her family. She said without Khmaia’s “amazing dad” and older brothers, and the lieutenants and sergeants she works with at the 35th Distict, she would never be able to get so much done. And she still has more she wants to do.

“When I leave this world, I want people to understand, not to be afraid of people who are different,” Downing said. “I want to help the world have a full, working knowledge of what is means to have different abilities.”