Colin Farrell Starts Foundation in Honor of Son with Angelman Syndrome

Colin Farrell's home is abuzz with activity, a departure from the actor’s usual tranquility. As photography and video crews bustle about his Los Angeles hillside residence, Farrell, 48, keeps a close eye on his son James, 20, who has Angelman syndrome, a rare neurogenetic disorder. James, who is nonverbal, plays catch in the backyard with his live-in caregiver, engaging a nearby journalist by tossing a miniature basketball her way.

James’ eyes light up upon seeing Farrell, but it is surpassed by the evident pride swelling in his father's chest as those around them respond kindly to his son. “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 for kindness and respect is the primary motivation behind Farrell’s decision to speak openly about his life with James for the first time. As James approaches his 21st birthday in September, he will age out of many support systems available to families with special needs children.

“Once your child turns 21, they’re kind of on their own,” Farrell explains. “All the safeguards, special education classes, they all go away, leaving you with a young adult who should be an integrated part of our modern society but is often left behind.”

To address this gap, Farrell is launching the Colin Farrell Foundation, which will provide support for adult children with intellectual disabilities through advocacy, education, and innovative programs. “This is the first time I’ve spoken about it, and the only reason I’m speaking is I can’t ask James if he wants to do this,” he says. “I mean, I can. I speak to James as if he’s 20 and has perfect fluency with the English language and age-appropriate cognitive ability. But I can’t discern a particular answer from him, so I have to make a call based on knowing James’s spirit and the goodness in his heart.”

James "has worked so hard all his life," Farrell adds. "Repetition, repetition, balance, his jerky gait. When he started feeding himself, his face looked like a Jackson Pollock painting by the end of it. But he gets it in, he feeds himself beautifully. I’m proud of him every day because he’s magic."

For years, Farrell has wanted to provide greater opportunities for families with special needs children, offering the support they deserve in all areas of life. James, and others like him, have "earned the right to have a greater degree of individuality and autonomy in life, and a greater degree of community."

Farrell believes that if James could express his opinion, he would wholeheartedly support the foundation's efforts. "If James knew getting his photograph in the back garden with me, which is not my favorite 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,’" Farrell adds. "So that’s why we’re doing it. This is all because of James—it’s all in his honor.”

News Source:- people.com