Colin Farrell has announced he has launched the Colin Farrell Foundation in the US to support adult children with special needs and their families, establishing the foundation in honour of his eldest son, James.
The actor shared news of the foundation with The Sunday World in Ireland and People magazine in the US.
In his on-camera interview with People magazine in the US, Farrell discussed his experiences of being a parent of an adult child with special needs.
James, who is Farrell's son with former partner Kim Bordenave, will soon turn 21. He has Angelman Syndrome, which is a rare neurogenetic disorder.
"I'm proud of him every day, because I just think he's magic," said Farrell.
The newly launched foundation's website, colinfarrellfoundation.org, says the organisation is "committed to transforming the lives of individuals and families living with intellectual disability through education, awareness, advocacy, and innovative programs".
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Farrell is the president of the not-for-profit foundation and his sister Claudine Farrell is vice president.
The Dubliner explained that he had wanted for many years "to do something in the realm of providing greater opportunities for families who have a child with special needs, to receive the support that they deserve, basically the assistance in all areas of life".
He said James and other young adults with special needs have "earned the right to have a greater degree of individuality and autonomy on life, and a greater degree of community".
"This is the first time I've spoken about it, and obviously the only reason I'm speaking is I can't ask James if he wants to do this," Farrell told People.
"I mean, I can. I speak to James as if he's 20 and has perfect fluency with the English language and age-appropriate cognitive ability. But I can't discern a particular answer from him as to whether he's comfortable with all this or not, so I have to make a call based on knowing James's spirit and what kind of young man he is and the goodness that he has in his heart."
Farrell said "that if James knew getting his photograph in the back garden with me, which is not my favourite thing to do, if us doing this could help families and other young adults who live with special needs, he would say, 'Dad, what are you talking about? Why are you even asking me? It's a no-brainer'".
"So that's why we're doing it," he added. "This is all because of James - it's all in his honour."
Farrell concluded his on-camera interview by saying: "It's a terrifying thought that I'll miss the last, you know, 40 years or 50 years of his life. Yeah, just 'cause I won't be there to shepherd and protect.
"But what would the perfect [alternative be?] You know, just a life of connection. And so, James's last 20, 30, 40, 10 years of James's life, he'll be somewhere where he feels like he belongs. Where he feels like he's safe and where he can garden and watch movies and swim in the pool and go out to the beach, and just have a full and meaningful and connected life. That'd be the dream."
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