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representing her community Allendale’s Diana Stolfo has never let Down syndrome hold her back BY LESLIE PERLMUTTER PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNE-MARIE CARUSO A 30 S P E C I A L PA R E N T | 2 0 1 6 E D I T I O N ON THE JOB Stolfo works as a sales associate at the GAP. “increase awareness so that I can help others as well,” she says. Through her many speaking engagements, Stolfo draws attention and awareness to people with special needs and advocates for their interests. Her motto is “Speak the word; be the word,” she says. “You can do anything you want if you put your mind to it. Believe it because you can. That's how you live life to the fullest.” At 33 years old, Stolfo is the oldest of three children. She is very close to her parents, Joanne and Salvatore Stolfo, and her siblings, Emily and David. > 201magazine.com/family COURTESY OF DIANA STOLFO quick look at Diana Stolfo’s LinkedIn profile and you can’t help but be impressed. She is a self-advocate, public speaker and role model for those who have Down syndrome or other special needs. Stolfo concurrently holds positions as a sales associate, clerical assistant and a receptionist, and she has competed in gymnastics in the Special Olympics for the past 20 years. In 2012, the Ridgewood native and Allendale resident spoke at the United Nations at its first celebration of World Down Syndrome Day. In addition, she has received the New Jersey ARC Bill Sachter award and the National Down Syndrome Society Melissa Reggio Voices award. People often seem more impressive on social media than they really are, but this is not the case with Stolfo. What the LinkedIn profile cannot adequately convey is the inspiration, positivity and dynamism that emanates from her. Stolfo took a public speaking class at Ridgewood High School and ran for Studen