Disability

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jul/06/downs-syndrome-sajid-javid-court-abortion-law-heidi-crowter

Thanks. I hope they succeed.

Lets hope this taxi driver gets their comeuppance:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jul/15/actor-ruth-madeley-describes-how-taxi-driver-took-her-wheelchair

He should lose his precious Hackney carriage license, what a fucking prick... Taxi drivers, eh, who knew?

Sad news from the German floods, where twelve deaths were reported of residents of an 'institution for disabled people' in Sinzig--sounds like sheltered accommodation, and a good chance that some or all of the victims were people with learning disabilities. No further details seem to have been reported yet.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/aug/23/actors-told-theyre-too-disabled-for-disabled-roles-in-television

Fuller piece:

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/aug/23/why-its-time-to-end-tvs-deplorable-prejudice-against-disabled-people

Sadly, Heidi Crowter's case was thrown out:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/23/woman-with-downs-syndrome-loses-uk-abortion-law-case

I'm sure efforts in this direction will continue. Good luck to those who continue the push.

This is awful.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/29/canada-jeremy-gabriel-mike-ward-discrimination

Always good writing from Frances Ryan.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/feb/09/living-in-a-womans-body-this-body-is-a-genetic-mistake-but-it-is-sex-laughter-and-beauty-too

Heidi Crowter has unfortunately lost her appeal, too.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/nov/25/heidi-crowter-woman-downs-syndrome-loses-court-of-appeal-abortion-law-case

It's not unexpected, but I think the law is wrong here. I also think Down's Syndrome will in the future be at the forefront of understanding better what it means to be human. People with Down's Syndrome tend to have strengths that other 'normal', 'non-disabled' people don't tend to have as well as tending to the obvious weaknesses, and I think it's essential to form society from all the strengths. (I use the idea of 'tending towards' something to avoid undue generalisations, as obviously Down's Syndrome manifests itself differently in different people, as do other conditions.)

While there are many valid medical indications for abortion, I disagree that Down's Syndrome should be allowed to be one of them, and I also worry about it being a slippery slope.

Before you remove the rights of the mother in this regard you need greater support imo.

Out of curiosity is there a way of knowing how severe the DS is going to end up being?

When we were in the US during the pregnancy of our first we opted out of DS test so we wouldn't have the pressure of making that decision.

People with Down's Syndrome tend to have strengths that other 'normal', 'non-disabled' people don't tend to have as well as tending to the obvious weaknesses

Care to elaborate? I assume you've got something more in mind than the old "oh they're so happy, loving, demonstrative" bollocks that used to get rolled out.

What's more, this is the world you're saying parents must bring disabled kids into, if they find out after 24 weeks.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/dec/09/from-the-wheelchair-using-black-panther-to-the-cripple-suffragette-10-heroes-of-the-disabled-rights-movement

Does anyone have experience of applying for a blue badge with an invisible or less obvious disability? Appreciate this might be a personal matter, could use some advice on how to get an assessment?

Find out what the eligibility criteria are from your local council. The first port of call is normally your GP who will help you fill in an application, that will go to the council who will then issue you with your badge.

My partner has MS, she's had a disability permit for a few years now. I'm in Australia but I imagine the process will be very similar if not the same.