Category: Down Syndrome

By Right to Life UK A disability rights campaigner who has Down’s syndrome has announced that she will take her case against the UK Government over the country’s discriminatory disability abortion law  to the European Court of Human Rights. Heidi Crowter, the 27-year-old woman from Coventry behind the challenge, has already had her case heard …

By Right to Life UK A new Barbie doll with Down’s syndrome is set to be released later this year. The company behind Barbie, Mattel, have announced that the Barbie will be available later this year. Lisa McKnight, executive vice president and global head of Barbie and Dolls at Mattel said “We are proud to …

By Cassy Fiano-Chesser  Barbie fans and disability rights groups alike are celebrating a new addition to Mattel’s line of inclusive Barbies: the first ever Barbie doll with Down syndrome. Partnering with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), Mattel created the doll for Barbie’s Fashionistas line. “Barbie Fashionistas celebrate diversity and offer endless possibilities for storytelling and fashion …

By Dave Andrusko Editor’s note. This first appeared in November 2020. I thought I would share it with you because the message is more relevant than ever. Back in September we repost a story that told the grim truth about the fate of babies with Down syndrome in Denmark. In 2019 there were virtually none—just …

By Cassy Fiano-Chesser  A mother of a child with Down syndrome is speaking out after doctors repeatedly pressured her to have an abortion — even going so far as to schedule one for her without her consent. Natalie O’Rourke spoke with the Sunday Times and appeared on ITV’s This Morning for World Down Syndrome Day, and told presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip …

Editor’s note. This story comes from the Jerome Lejeune Foundation. As the mother of a child with Down syndrome, Gail Hamblin is determined to make sure her son, Calvin, and those like him are able to live their best lives. Raising Calvin, she realized that there was a critical gap in children’s literature on Down syndrome …

By Right to Life UK A debate was held in Parliament  to mark World Down Syndrome Day. The debate was opened by Dr Liam Fox who previously said that abortion laws in the UK are “far too liberal” and that abortion up to birth for babies with Down’s syndrome is “absolutely horrendous”. During the debate, Dr Fox quoted ‘valiant campaigner’ …

ROCK THE SOCKS – It’s Down Syndrome Day!!!

By Dave Andrusko Editor’s note. Today is World Down Syndrome Day. The following appeared several years ago in NRL News Today. I remember back to 2011 when the United Nations passed a resolution formally recognizing March 21 as World Down Syndrome Recognition Day. The following year I recall finding the stories split between celebrating the …

By Cassy Fiano-Chesser Belfast actor James Martin has become the first person with Down syndrome to win an Academy Award — and in a special twist, he celebrated the win on his birthday. Martin starred in the short film “An Irish Goodbye,” which won in the best live action short category. Previously, Martin said he “burst …

She writes with great eloquence stories about children with Down syndrome—including her own now 16-year-old Penny, who has Down syndrome. Read the whole story.

“It’s bad news,” came his voice on the other end of the phone. “Your baby has Down syndrome and I’ve scheduled…” Zoey, then 21 weeks pregnant with baby Arlee, interrupted the doctor – “Scheduled what?” “I’ve scheduled an abortion for tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.,” the doctor informed Zoey. Read the whole story.