This is a long post but it relates to Anya Souza... very interesting reading.
Report: People with Down's Syndrome Disrupt Screening Conference - Woman
with Down's syndrome tells doctors: 'I am a person not a disease.'
On May 19th, a group of people with Down's Syndrome and their supporters
disrupted the International Down Syndrome Screening Conference at Regents
Collage in London. This is the first time people with Down's Syndrome have
made such a protest and is a major new step in the debate about genetics,
eugenics and the rights of disabled people. As a result of the protest, the
conference organisers allowed Anya Souza to speak from the platform. Ms
Souza, who is a trustee of the Down Syndrome Association, told the doctors
that she opposes Down's Syndrome screening and that people with Down's
Syndrome are people not medical problems. Her speech was warmly applauded
by the conference delegates
The protesters consisted of three people with Down's Syndrome, another
disabled person with learning disabilities and their families and
supporters. They had written to the conference organisers in advance and
asked to speak, but were refused by the main organiser, Professor Howard
Cuckle. It is unacceptable that doctors discuss better ways of preventing
people with Down's Syndrome being born, whilst excluding their voices from
the debate. This runs directly counter to one of the main demands of
disabled people: 'Nothing about us without us'. The protesters expect that
their action will persuade the conference organisers to ensure a full debate
at next years conference with proper representation of disabled people with
learning difficulties. This should be the start of a national debate on
prenatal screening.
In her speech, entitled 'Everything you ever wanted to know about Down's
Syndrome... but never bothered to ask' , Anya Souza said:
"I can't get rid of my Down's Syndrome. But you can't get rid of my
happiness. You can't get rid of the happiness I give others either. It's
doctors like you that want to test pregnant women and stop people like me
being born. You can't abort me now can you? You can't kill me...sorry!
Together with my family and friends I have fought to prevent my separation
from normal society. I have fought for my rights. ..... I have the right
to a job, to services when necessary, to a decent standard of living, to
know about my medical problems, to speak my mind, to make choices about my
friends, whether to have sex, and so on.
To do this you have to be independent when you grow up and not get separated
from society... I may have Down's Syndrome, but I am a person first."
Kitty Gilbert, who also has Down's Syndrome, said: "...... I enjoyed
watching the conference although I was a bit scared of what the conference
people were saying. I think screening pregnant mothers with Down's Syndrome
babies is wrong. They are wanting their offspring to be able to enjoy their
world around them and have endless happiness. I for one gave my mum pride
and joy and I will continue to do so. I think that we should be treated
fairly and equally, not being getting rid off because there is so much more
in life that we can do. We are what we are and ask our opinion."