Frank Stephens

Frank Stephens lives by the words of Mahatma Gandhi: "My life is my message."
And what a life – and message – it is and has been.

An athlete, actor, author and advocate, Frank has proven — on stage, on screen, on the playing feels and in the halls of government — that every life, including his own, is worth living.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet Frank Stephens, John Stephens, and Cornelia Wilson Stephens in the Blue Room prior to hosting "A Celebration of Special Olympics and A Unified Generation" at the White House to mark the anniversary of the Special Olympics, July 31, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy) This photograph is provided by THE WHITE HOUSE as a courtesy and may be printed by the subject(s) in the photograph for personal use only. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not otherwise be reproduced, disseminated or broadcast, without the written permission of the White House Photo Office. This photograph may not be used in any commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

Photo by Chuck Kennedy/The White House

When asked about his early childhood, Frank loves to say he was “born in a log cabin deep in the Ozark mountains.” Actually, he was born in 1982 in a hospital in Fayetteville, Arkansas to John and Cornelia Stephens, but as he jokes, “that log cabin thing sounds so Presidential.”

Frank first connected with Special Olympics in Fairfax in the summer of 1990 at age 8. He joined an equestrian riding program and specialized in English equitation to improve his balance and gain confidence. It must have worked because that fall, Frank won the gold medal at the state-level Fall Championships.

In 2004, after speaking at a public hearing to save a local employment program for Special Education, Frank became a Special Olympics Virginia Global Messenger. Since then, he has spent two decades advocating for inclusion and dignity for people with intellectual disabilities. He served two terms on Special Olympics Virginia’s Board of Directors and continues to be an unwavering supporter of the organization. In 2016, he received the Quincy Jones Excellence in Advocacy Award, a testament to his relentless fight for the rights of people with Down syndrome.

Frank often says his training as a Global Messenger equipped him to have an influence on public acceptance of and support for people with developmental disabilities. Equally important, participating in Special Olympics gave him joy, lifelong friendships and the drive to improve through work.

His words have traveled across the world, from op-eds published in The New York Times, The London Daily Mail and The Huffington Post to his stirring testimony before the U.S. Congress and the United Nations. In 2017, when he boldly declared before Congress, "I am a man with Down syndrome, and my life is worth living," his words struck a chord, earning the first-ever standing ovation at a congressional hearing. That moment wasn’t just a speech — it was a movement, one that helped secure increased funding for Down syndrome research from the National Institutes of Health. His testimony reached more than 200 million people, proving his voice was and is changing the game.

His advocacy has taken him across North America and Europe, addressing policymakers, medical professionals, students — from middle schoolers to Harvard Law School—and global audiences, always with his signature blend of humor, warmth and wisdom. He’s been interviewed by major networks, including BBC, CNN, Fox News and Inside Edition, sharing his perspective with the world.
Never one to blend into the background, Frank also has starred in feature films like Touched by Grace, workshopped plays in New York, and made guest appearances on the Emmy-winning show Born This Way. He most recently took on the role of screenwriter, helping with the film adaptation of Billy The Bomber, and he had a lead role in the off-Broadway production last year.

Frank frequently says he’s lucky to live in a time where so much is possible for people with Down syndrome. But the truth is, the world is lucky to have him — a man whose life is a testament to the power of perseverance, passion and the unshakable belief that every life, no matter the challenges, is worth celebrating.

And now he’s ready to help even more athletes change the game. Frank is one of three GameChangers, joining David Egan and Paul Marretti, as some of Virginia’s earliest athlete advocates, paving the way for the next generation.

“The most important thing to find in life is a sense of purpose and the belief that you have the ability to achieve that purpose,” Frank said. “Everyone has something to offer to the world. We all just need the chance to find our gift and the opportunity to share it with the world. Find your special gift and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t use it.”