I took When Kirsty was 4 years old, Neil and . We were in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The city I grew up in. The work the centre did impressed us. It wasn’t only a ‘day care centre’, it was a centre where children with Down Syndrome received physiotherapy , play therapy and where education was introduced. I was so pleased to see that attitudes had changed from the time I lived in Malaysia. I have lived in the UK for 26 years.
Have attitudes really changed?
I struggle to answer that question in 2020 and living in the Uk.
My husband Neil and I still remember the dataset day we were ‘told off’ by an emminent doctor for not wanting to terminate our pregnancy. This doctor told us if Kirsty survived she would be terribly brain damaged. This assumption was mainly based on her diagnosis of Down Syndrome. This was 19 years ago.
We also remember going around
A primary and secondary school for Kirsty. Both headteachers at the end of the visit made it clear they did not want Kirsty to attend the school. Neither of them medium and wide vertical stiles also provide had met Kirsty and once again a decision was made without meeting her. This was 16 and 7 years ago respectively.
‘Don’t Screen Us Out’ an organisation that protects the rights of people with Down Syndrome and aims to encourage the medical profession to provide updated and true information on how people with Down Syndrome are able to lead healthy and happy lives.
The organisation is currently campaigning for
The government to change its rules on the Abortion Act. An abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy is currently illegal unless the fetus has a disability. This means a sale leads baby with Down Syndrome can be terminated up to term.