In a written statement, officials with the Calhoun City Schools announced she would be made an honorary cheerleader. But some are speaking out against the ridicule, reminding folks that just because you can be a jackass, "does not mean that you should be a jack-ass.". As the mother of a little girl with Down syndrome, I have an interest in how people with my daughter’s condition are portrayed in literature. At one point, the author states the following: “No house would take her; her difficulties make her strange, people may find her off-putting.” This idea that nobody would want a person with Down syndrome to live with them spins a whole new and worrying avenue of prejudice for the reader. It appears you entered an invalid email. A new prenatal test for Down's syndrome hit the market in Germany and several other European countries Monday, the manufacturer said, amid a controversy over whether it could lead to more abortions. Shortland Street's 'insensitive' Down syndrome baby storyline controversy . They don’t. "They have no right to take Heidi's image and use it alongside these cruel sites. The overall impression created by Arnopp is that this woman is a nuisance to those around her and needs to be excluded by ignoring her. She writes that Sister Frances was “treading on people’s toes and causing uproar.” This cheap attempt at humor is at the cost of people with Down syndrome. They grow into adults like you and me, with all the same emotions, worries and joys. Six months ago, Liz Crowter discovered that her daughter had become the subject of a particularly nasty Internet meme — and, given the Internet, that's saying something. This says to me that more people in the literary world than just Arnopp feel that it is acceptable to create such prejudice against people with Down syndrome. Authorities in Thailand are to inspect all the clinics in the country offering surrogacy services to see if they are operating within the law after a … Meet the newest colors of Reece’s Rainbow… Home with their forever families! A 24-year-old woman who has Down’s syndrome has launched a landmark case against the UK Government over the current discriminatory abortion law that singles out babies with disabilities allowing abortion right through to birth for conditions including Down’s syndrome, cleft lip and club foot. M yth #3: Down’s Syndrome kids remain kids forever. In terms of how Arnopp’s decision to create a derogatory caricature of a woman with Down syndrome sits with me in modern society, it raises a number of grave concerns. Arnopp writes, “Sister Frances isn’t given to words. But in the UK, where a student was recently sent to jail for two months for making racist comments about Fabrice Muamba on Twitter, trolls might want to pick on someone else. Further, the photo itself appears to have been lifted not from the website of a support group, but rather from a book published by Liz and Steve Crowter called Surprise Package: When God Turns Your Life Upside Down's. Some Twitter users pointed to the fact that Gerber Life allegedly denied insurance polcies to children with Down syndrome due to “life expectancy.” Though the 45-year-old from Coventry told The Sun she first spotted the meme late last year on Facebook, the macro has been in use since at least 2009, according to Know Your Meme. Feb 23, 2020 News. She is slow in both thought and action; Sister Dorothea swears she must have been dropped on her head as an infant.” Do I even need to explain why this description of a character is unacceptable? As an author, Arnopp should know that her writing influences anyone who reads it and she should perhaps reflect on how she is influencing the readers of this novel to buy into her own biased view of Down syndrome. A new, simple way to detect Down syndrome in a fetus means the condition will be virtually extinct — but not without a great deal of controversy… The latest twist in the important controversy of Family Guy making fun of Trig Palin: An actress with Down syndrome said Sarah Palin "does not have a sense of humor." Born with Down syndrome, Key already participated on the school’s swim team, and … She even goes so far as to have one of the other characters state that she was “grating on my nerves.” In another scene, this character, her caregiver states she is now ignoring Sister Frances. And not just an animal. Yet, the novel was published in 2018. This week, the pureed food purveyors appointed its first-ever “spokesbaby” with Down syndrome. For some, this is a move toward greater inclusion; for others, it seems like just a tokenizing PR move. "Down's Syndrome Girl" is a musical number sung by Stewie to Chris in order to prepare for his date with Ellen in "Extra Large Medium". Arnopp furthers her impression of Sister Frances as a hindrance to others by describing the way she moves in a clumsy manner. A similar controversy surrounded the "Extra Large Medium" episode of "Family Guy." It is abhorrent, especially as the mother of a little girl with Down syndrome. That she is an animal to be laughed at. It seems Gerber has stirred up some controversy. In the US and most other places, likely nothing. This is followed, later on in the novel by the statement “my mistaken conviction that simple folk can make a difference.” Influencing the reader to think that people with Down syndrome are not welcome in the world is truly biased writing. All she wanted to do was cheer. Perpetuating this prejudiced view of people with Down syndrome is unacceptable, irresponsible and dangerous. Arnopp also uses infantilization to depict Sister Frances. Many applauded the company’s decision to choose Lucas, but some slammed the choice as a marketing move, according to People. 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