Hey eidsvold.....

[jimjamshaslefttheyurt]

Your dd1 is on the front page of the BBC news website again....

Although the article (that I saw) was more about information on 'safer' testing whereas the last article in which she appeared was positive news for children with Downs. Of course views on abortion differ but shouldn't the parents be consulted before using their child's image in connection with a story such as this? 'Knowing' eidsvoid, it made me feel uncomfortable that someone might look at the picture and think, 'Here's how not to have a child like this.'

You could say that, cyber, but perhaps people will look at it as "don't abort your Downs baby because they might end up just as gorgeous as this one" or is that just wishful thinking on my part .
I'm still at the idea that 90% of Downs babies are aborted...

link please

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7654201.stm

Oh, I linked to that on eidsvold's previous thread about it - here

I know what you mean, cyber, but I don't think the text reads like that - esp the bit at the bottom from the Downs Syndrome person:

I see what you mean Wendy - the article tries to be neutral. I feel though that if bringing up a child is not for everyone, they should consider that before trying for a child - but that's just a personal view, I'm not trying to convince others.

I agree with you cyber.

Oh your first post - about the use of the photo.

OH really!!! must check it out.

sorry not been as widely visiting lately in the process of organising a working bee for our prep school gardens with no money to do gardens, plants, mulch, borders, etc.

Have not read the article but know that even here in my new parent support role we need to be non judgemental. Thank goodness I have only been supporting parents who have children with ds, no idea how I would deal with a family that had a prenatal diagnosis and terminated.

There is another link where you can put forward your views on that but I can't see where you can post.

here

oh I found it now - saw where you can add a comment - I have - no idea whether it will appear.

This is what I posted - wonder if they will put it up on the website.

The gorgeous wee girl featured in the picture further down in the article is my daughter. She is now a happy, healthy wonderful 6 year old. She attends mainstream school and is a very delightful outgoing amazing girl. She has such a positive influence on all around her. She has a wicked sense of humour, she loves nothing better than playing outdoors with her two sisters. What makes her different to any other children her age - well she has had cardiac surgery - but then so have lots of other children and she just happens to have down syndrome.

I too am saddened when the emphasis on antenatal testing seems to target down syndrome. There are so many conditions that can be determined by a variety of antenatal tests but the only one that gets the media attention is down syndrome.

I just can't imagine my life without her. My only sadness - she was born into a society where for some people her extra chromosome as makes her less than a person.

oops I now realise I used my name so hopefully as it identifies dd1 they will not use it. I hope!!!!

Did you ever assign copyright to the photo to another person ?

Yes cyber - the photos were taken for the Annual Report for the dsa - uk in 2003. Dd1 was about 1 when that pic was taken. In the annual report - the down syndrome association tries to 'humanise' its report and they feature a glimpse into the life of a baby, school aged child and post school aged/adult. Dd1 was the baby that was featured for the 2003/03 annual report. We got a copy of every photo taken but we did have to sign over our rights for them to use as they felt appropriate. It has only been recently that pics of her have cropped up. There was one in the recent journal that we got from the DSA UK and then this one. So perhaps they wait until she is so much older.

the funny thing is - that is not my favourite photo that was taken as part of the day long photo shoot!! THere are a couple that are just gorgeous - make you melt pics that they could use.

Must see if I can find them for you lot.

page 8 on this report are some pics

here

There is one that we have a copy of that shows her mad hair and it is just gorgeous.