Colin Farrell Forms Foundation to Address Needs of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Rare Daily Staff

Actor Colin Farrell, whose 20-year-old son James has the rare neurological disorder Angelman syndrome, has established a foundation designed to provide support for adult children who have an intellectual disability through advocacy, education, and innovative programs.

Farrell announced the launch of the Colin Farrell Foundation in an interview in People magazine.

Farrell has long been active in the Angelman syndrome community, but with his son reaching adulthood, he is seeking to address the needs people like James face as they age out of support systems that address the needs of children with special needs and their families.

Once your child turns 21, they’re kind of on their own,” Farrell told People. “All the safeguards that are put in place, special ed classes, that all goes away, so you’re left with a young adult who should be an integrated part of our modern society and more often than not is left behind.”

The foundation has multiple initiatives. They include efforts to address the long waitlist for intellectual disability support waivers, housing and day programs for people living with intellectual disabilities who require more than minimal daily living support, and the workforce crisis for direct support professionals who work with people with intellectual disabilities caused by the systemic underfunding of social services.

Farrell is president of the board of directors for the new foundation. Paula Evans, founder and chairperson of the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics, is CEO of the foundation.

Photo: Colin Farrell, president of the board of the Colin Farrell Foundation