A woman with Down syndrome is fighting the UK abortion law at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Heidi Crowter says the current legislation discriminates against people with disabilities. It allows abortion up to birth if the foetus has a condition such as Down syndrome. “I am taking this case to Strasbourg because it Read more
Recently, my husband repurposed a piece of plastic, some string and a scrap of fabric to make a therapy swing for my daughter’s Barbie dolls. My daughter Josie has Down syndrome and attends a therapy centre where she works on her speech and her fine and gross motor skills. She loves being pushed on a Read more
Just before his first speaking engagement at the UN, a young Catholic triathlete spoke to a television news outlet about his faith. “I am Gabriel, God’s messenger,” 22-year old Gabriel Cobb told OSV News. Cobb, pictured with his parents just before going into the UN New York conference hall added: “My faith is the most Read more
A religious community that includes sisters with Down syndrome isn’t something many would expect to hear about. In fact, there’s just one in the entire world – in southern France. There, the religious community welcomes sisters with Down syndrome to live out their vocation of contemplative prayer. The Prioress, Mother Line, is now seeking able Read more
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
A 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 They say they weren’t consulted about the storyline which is described as reflecting outdated thinking and failing to represent an inclusive society.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
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
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
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
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