Taylor Swift’s song “22” has special meaning for Saint Rose freshman Amy Maiorano, who remade the song in a video to advocate for Deletion 22q, a disorder she lives with.
The Swift fan thought the song lent itself perfectly to Deletion 22q.
“She inspired me because of her lyrics in ‘22’ and I obviously have Deletion 22, so I thought that would be perfect to educate others with the syndrome,” said Maiorano of Swift.
While she’s never been to a Taylor Swift concert, Maiorano would love to one day meet the musician and thank her for her song.
In the video, which features singing by Maiorano’s older sister, Nicole, she educates the masses on the trials of living with Deletion 22q.
“I’m normal just like you but with Deletion 22, I’m trying to spread the word to make you aware,” sings Nicole, who helped Maiorano write the new lyrics.
The sisters made the video over a couple days last summer.
“I had fun borrowing my sister’s voice and I enjoyed dressing up because on a Friday night I didn’t have the opportunity to go out,” said Maiorano of the experience.
Since posting the video in October on her YouTube channel, amy maiorano, it has over 6,000 views.
The 21-year-old native of Carmel sees the video as another chance for her to be an advocate.
Deletion 22q is a disorder caused by partial absence of the 22nd chromosome. It is associated with chronic physical problems such as growth deficiencies, impaired vision, hearing loss, heart defects, psychiatric disorders and seizures. But for Amy, and 90 percent of those living with Deletion 22q, the most potent obstacle is intellectual disabilities.
The obstacles do not exclude Maiorano from everyday student life. As a freshman in the College Experience Program at Saint Rose, she currently focuses on cooking and budgeting skills but is also honing her talents to become a public orator and creative writer.
“I did the video to inform other people,” she said. “I’ve been advocating about my disability since high school, prior I was quiet about my disability because I was scared.”
Scared no more, Maiorano hopes to make more music videos in the future.
“I do want to make [a music video] for the college experience program,” she said. “Me and some of the students were talking about it in cooking class.”
Beyond the videos, Maiorano dreams of dancing with Ellen DeGeneres.
“I want to educate more to others and to be more a big advocate for students with disabilities and I’d like to bring the college experience with me too,” she said of her hopes to one day grace the “Ellen Show.”
For now she is content in the College Experience Program at Saint Rose — where she said she has more friends than ever before.
“I would recommend the program to others with disabilities because it has helped me out in many ways,” Maiorano said. “Before I came here I couldn’t turn on a stove and now I cook my own dinner.”
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