THE family of a Southampton man with Down's syndrome is making a documentary about his life to show Bermudians just how much people with disabilities can achieve.

Down's syndrome is a chromosomal disorder that results in mild to severe learning disabilities and physical differences such as an extra fold of skin under the eyes.

Panatel VDS Ltd. cameras whirled yesterday morning as Paul Ray, 46, handed over two $500 cheques to Windreach Recreational Village and Riding for the Disabled.

He raised the money during a birthday party at which people were asked to bring a donation instead of a present.

"I am 46 years old," said Mr. Ray. "I had my birthday party on May 24. I asked people to donate money and not give me gifts.

"This is the second time I have made a donation to Windreach. The first time was when they opened the stables. I work here Monday to Saturday. I clear the walks, and I put new tyres on the wheelbarrows. I muck out the animals.

"Last Christmas I did a Christmas tree for them. I put the lights on the tree. Sometimes Eyeore, the donkey, escapes and I have to go and catch him."

The movie was commissioned by his father, William (Cheese) Ray and is being directed by Paul Ray's sister, Donna Pink, who works at Panatel.

"I wanted to make this movie to help other families with children with Down's syndrome," said Cheese Ray. "When Paul was born, I didn't know anyone else with a child with Down's syndrome. He wasn't diagnosed until he was a year old. We just accepted it."

Mr. Ray's advice to other parents is not to create limits for their Down's syndrome children.

"We always just treated him as normal," said Mr. Ray. "When he was four years old I bought him a pony and he went all over the neighbourhood on it. When he was 12 years old we sent him to the Dr. Franklin Perkins School in Lancaster, Massachusetts.

"That was the hardest thing I ever did, leaving him there, but it was the best thing. He became more independent and he learned to read and write and he took lessons. Before that he went to school at St. Brendan's Hospital, but they weren't doing as much for him."

Paul's mother died when he was very young, but his stepmother Josie, has treated him like her biological child.

"Josie taught him and got him into the schools," Mr. Ray said.

Sadly, Mrs. Ray is now extremely ill and in hospital after she received serious head injuries during a handbag snatch outside the Southampton Post Office a few months ago.

Mrs. Pink said Panatel was producing the film to showcase all the things that Paul had been able to accomplish.

"Paul is a shining example of what people with Down's syndrome can do, given nurturing, encouragement and education, thus enabling them to accomplish amazing things and become very productive members of society," she said.

Mrs. Pink said in the past, it was automatically assumed by both the medical profession and the general public, that people with Down's syndrome would be extremely limited in terms of what they would be able to accomplish in life.

"This left little hope and a lot of fear for new parents of these children," she said. "This film is being made to capture Paul's life, to show his loving, gentle nature and to demonstrate his achievements in order to foster a clearer understanding to the viewing audience of people with Down's syndrome.

"We would like to emphasise that the world is made up of diverse people with varied talents, looks and personalities and people with Down's syndrome are no different in that they too have their own unique qualities to contribute to the universe and therefore should be treated as such.

"We want to make people aware of what these unique qualities are and perhaps influence their approach and attitudes in the future."

Paul Ray has loved animals his whole life.

When he was four years old his father bought him his first pony, Smoky. Since then he has participated in several horse shows.

He has a licence to drive a 90cc motorbike. He passed both the written test and driving test. He lives alone and he cooks for himself. His father said he is very independent.

Cheese Ray said: "When I asked him what he wanted for his birthday he said, well, I don't need anymore clothes. I have a motorcycle.

"I don't need anything.

"He wanted to give his birthday money to Windreach and Riding for the Disabled instead. He likes to golf and he has his own putting green at home. I built it for him. He would like to have a putting green at Windreach Recreational Village for people to use."