Was in the cafe this morning and flicked over the paper to reveal the heading "Could you bring up a Down's syndrome child?"
I emailed editor of that section:
Dear Sally
I felt I had to email you with regard to today?s feature in The Sun - ?Could you bring up a Down?s syndrome child??.
Firstly I think the fact you have covered this issue in the Sun is wonderful, all awareness is great and hopefully will go towards expelling a few fears and some of the ignorance surrounding the facts of having a child with Down?s syndrome.
However I feel I have to point out a very important issue to do with the wording in the feature?s title.
You title should read ?Could you bring up a child with Down?s syndrome??
People with Down?s syndrome or exactly that, - people. They are people first, they are all individual and unique, the same as everyone else and should be seen as a person first, and their disability should be seen second.
My daughter, Charlotte has Down?s syndrome, she isn?t ?a Down?s syndrome?, she?s much, much more than that. She?s Charlotte first and she also happens to have Down?s syndrome.
Perhaps this may seem a small point to you, but to a mother of a child who has Down?s syndrome it is a very, very important one.
When I see or hear the words ?the Down?s child? or similar it upsets me so much and I know I?m not alone in this. My friends and family feel the same and I have spoken to many, many other parents who share this strong feeling.
I do hope you take this email in the nature it is intended.
I?m just a parent trying to do the best I can for my daughter.
I applaud you for covering the subject in the Sun and hope all you readers learn something from it.
Having a child who has Down?s syndrome really isn?t a terrible thing and myself and my family are all very lucky to have Charlotte in our lives.
Many thanks and my kindest regards