A teenager with Down syndrome has been denied New Zealand residence because of the perceived burden she could place on the health and education systems. It’s a move that has disappointed a disability advocate, who says people with Down syndrome contribute to their communities, and not all have additional medical needs. The 17-year-old Indian citizen, Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Down syndrome’
Shortland Street’s Down syndrome storyline inappropriate and offensive
Thursday, August 2nd, 2018A suggestion to abort a Down syndrome pregnancy in the popular New Zealand television soap opera Shortland Street has drawn fire from The Down Syndrome Association. They say they weren’t consulted about the storyline which is described as reflecting outdated thinking and failing to represent an inclusive society. Association spokesperson Kim Porthouse said the organisation Read more
Down Syndrome woman’s passionate UN speech
Thursday, June 1st, 2017
A woman with Down Syndrome and autism received a five minute standing ovation after her passionate right to life speech to the Human Rights Committee at the United Nations (U.N). Charlotte (Charlie) Helene Fien, who is 21, wrote her speech after watching a television documentary called ‘A world without Down Syndrome’. The documentary discussed a Read more
Speaking to parents of children with Down’s syndrome
Thursday, March 23rd, 2017
The day after Samantha was born, her mother Margaret was told she had Down’s syndrome. “After the doctors left my bed I held my baby tight and prayed to Our Lady and said I would always take care of her. “They were very negative in the hospital, telling us she probably wouldn’t live past 21 Read more
Down syndrome in and out of love
Thursday, February 23rd, 2017
A long ago school mate of mine had an older sister called Edith. I wondered why Edith didn’t go to our school; I wondered about other things, too. Worrying things. What was the matter with Edith? ‘Edith doesn’t really look like us,’ I eventually told my mother, who knew the family. ‘No, she doesn’t,’ agreed Read more
Letter to doctor who advised abortion of girl with Down Syndrome
Friday, June 17th, 2016
Diagnosed with Down Syndrome before she was born, a US woman’s doctor recommended she abort her unborn child. But Courtney Baker and her husband, despite being told their quality of life would suffer, decided to proceed with the pregnancy and gave birth to little Emersyn Faith, known fondly as Emmy, 15 months ago. Last month Read more
Dawkins says not aborting Down syndrome babies is immoral
Tuesday, August 26th, 2014
Supporters of people with Down syndrome have slammed atheist Richard Dawkins’ comments that it would be immoral not to abort a foetus with the condition. The controversy erupted after a Twitter exchange between Dawkins and a woman who said she would face a real ethical dilemma if pregnant with a baby diagnosed with Down syndrome. Read more
Vatican paper slams culture that led to Thai surrogacy row
Friday, August 8th, 2014
A Vatican paper says the alleged rejection of a Down Syndrome baby in a surrogacy case is a result of a culture that turns babies into consumer products. Surrogate mother Pattaramon Chanbua from Thailand is caring for seven-month-old Gammy after an Australian couple chose his healthy twin sister, but abandoned him. The couple, David and Read more
Everything I can do: living with Down Syndrome
Friday, March 7th, 2014
Some people may think that I would be treated badly because I have Down syndrome. My experience has not been this way. God tells everyone to treat people equally, and I think that most people act in this way. I don’t feel as if people make fun of me or make me feel bad just because Read more
There’s no such thing as a ‘normal’ family
Friday, October 18th, 2013
For his new book, author Andrew Solomon spoke with parents who have children completely unlike them — with autism, Down syndrome or dwarfism. SPIEGEL spoke with him about his findings and how they changed his parenting. SPIEGEL: Dr. Solomon, in your book you write about Jason Kingsley, who was a child star on “Sesame Street.” What’s Read more