Colin Farrell Launches Foundation in Honour of Son with Angelman Syndrome
Colin Farrell, the renowned Irish actor, has opened his home and heart to share his personal journey with his son, James, who has Angelman syndrome. In an exclusive interview, Farrell discusses the challenges faced by families with children who have special needs and the inspiration behind his new foundation.
Farrell's Los Angeles home is filled with the hustle and bustle of a photo shoot, but the actor's focus remains on his 20-year-old son, James. James, who is non-verbal, enjoys a game of catch in the backyard with his caregiver. He catches the eye of a journalist nearby and playfully throws a miniature basketball in her direction, inviting her to join the game.
James' eyes light up when he sees his father, but Farrell's chest swells with pride when he witnesses the kindness and affection shown to his son by those around him. "I want the world to be kind to James," Farrell tells PEOPLE. "I want the world to treat him with kindness and respect."
This desire to create a world that embraces James is the driving force behind Farrell's decision to speak openly about his experiences for the first time. As James turns 21 in September, he will age out of many of the support systems in place for families with special needs children.
"Once your child turns 21, they're kind of on their own," Farrell explains. "All the safeguards that are put in place, special education classes, that all goes away. You're left with a young adult who should be an integrated part of society, but more often than not they are left behind."
To address this gap in support, Farrell has launched the Colin Farrell Foundation. This foundation aims to provide assistance to adult children with intellectual disabilities through advocacy, educational programmes, and innovative initiatives.
"This is the first time I've spoken about this," Farrell says, "and the only reason I'm doing so is because I can't ask James if he wants to be involved. I mean, I can speak to him as if he's 20 with perfect fluency in English, but I can't discern his feelings about all of this. So, I have to make a decision based on knowing James's spirit and the good that resides in his heart."
Farrell praises his son's resilience and strength, highlighting the challenges he faces daily. "He's worked so hard all his life, so hard," Farrell says. "Repetition, repetition, balance, his jerky gait. When he started feeding himself for the first time, his face looked like a Jackson Pollock by the end of it. But he gets it in, he feeds himself beautifully. I'm proud of him every day because I just think he's magic."
For years, Farrell had been seeking a way to help other families facing similar challenges. "I wanted to do something in the realm of providing greater opportunities for families who have a child with special needs, to receive the support that they deserve, in all areas of life," he says.
James and those like him, Farrell believes, "have earned the right to have a greater degree of individuality and autonomy in life, and a greater degree of community."
Farrell ultimately chooses to believe that James, if he could understand the scope of the foundation, would be supportive. "If he knew getting his photo taken in the garden with me, which isn't my favourite thing to do, could help families and other young adults with special needs, he would say, 'Dad, what are you talking about? Why are you even asking me? It's a no-brainer.' That's why we're doing this. It's all because of Jamesâit's all in his honour."
For more information on the Colin Farrell Foundation and how you can offer support, visit www.colinfarrellfoundation.org.
