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Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'My child won't be able to go to school if they take away her vital EHCP'
Parents and children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) met with MPs today to share their views of how cuts to EHCPs could hugely disrupt their schooling Fifty MPs from across parties received an enlightening education in parliament today (Tuesday) from an impressive group of children and young people about life in a SEND family. Amid fears of cuts to education, health and welfare plans (EHCPs) in the upcoming government white paper due in the autumn, politicians were invited to hear first-hand from children what life with special educational needs and disabilities is really like. Katie Nellist, 18, of Oxfordshire, who has autism, told The Mirror: 'I want MPs to see us as humans, they see us as paperwork, not humans. But we are real people and we deserve to be educated and live good lives. The education system is so rigid that you can't succeed unless you are the definition of 'normal.'' She told Labour MP Annaliese Dodds: 'EHCPs are our only hope and I can't see what would replace them.' After speaking to Katie and her dad, Pete, Ms Dodds told The Mirror: 'The system is completely broken and needs reform – it's brilliant we've got young people like Katie sharing their voice. 'It was really helpful to hear directly from families about the challenges and what needs to change.' Katie - who has PTSD as a result of difficulties in her own education - was joined at the unique event in Portcullis House by Hope Foley, five, who has cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus; Matthew Harding, 10, who is autistic; Audrey Baynton-Williams, 11, who has Down's syndrome, and 16-year-old young carer Rosie Harris, who has two disabled brothers and wants to become a lawyer, to give SEND families a voice. Lib Dem MP Munira Wilson also spoke to Katie. She said: 'We are having debates in parliament on SEN most weeks – we are hearing story after story. 'What we are hearing is that there is a complete lack of trust in the system, which is so broken that children and young people with SEN feel like they are having to fight every step of the way.' Conservative MP Rebecca Paul spoke to Matthew Harding and his father Ben. She said: 'It was helpful to understand some of the challenges for families and see the real world impact.'' Lib Dem MP Zoe Franklin was visibly moved by her conversation with Audrey. She said: 'I came here today to speak to people who have lived experience – like Audrey. It's clear how much Audrey wants to learn, how much she has enjoyed being in mainstream education. Audrey is thriving – but she's done so because she has had the right support. The difference an EHCP has is enormous.' Labour MP Ben Coleman spoke to Hope and her mum Holly. He said: 'I'm here today because it's good to connect with the families and children. 'What is becoming clear is that the system we have isn't working, EHCPs are a nightmare for parents to navigate and fight for, but are often the only thing that parents feel will get them the support they need.' Parents, children and young people were delighted to have spoken to politicians face to face. Holly Kay, Hope's mum said: 'There has been a really good turnout, we've spoken to so many MPs today. 'I can't believe we were speaking to Labour MP Catherine McKinnell – she seemed really interested in Hope. She asked her how school was and was playing with Hope.`' Rosie Harris said: 'Lots of MPs were receptive and were listening to what I had to say. It's been helpful to share my experiences." The event was organised by the Disabled Children's Partnership (DCP) and Let Us Learn Too - a campaign by parents and carers of disabled children - to give MPs the chance to meet young people with SEND and their families, to hear their concerns. Anna Bird, chair of the DCP, said: 'MPs told us this was the most engaging session they'd had all year. It was brilliant to hear children and young people tell them their concerns over their schools, education and SEND reform, and for MPs and ministers to really listen.' Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle spoke to Hayley Harding, Matthew Harding's mum and organiser of Let Us Learn Too. She said: 'He clearly cared about the children's needs and why the right support is so vital for them. 'Getting people in front of the children who will live the effects of decisions being made is so important, as it's these children who will live the consequences. We really hope they remember them when any plans are officially announced.' While Matthew, 10, said: 'It was good. I liked talking to people.' Meanwhile, Katie Nellist summed things up, saying: 'The MPs were listening and engaged. This is an issue that is not going to go away and young people won't let it go either. 'The Government hasn't been engaging with us, now I want to make sure the young person's voice keeps being heard because it's our future.' 'My daughter wouldn't be able to get an education without her EHCP' Hope Foley, five, lives in Essex with sister Poppy, dad Reiss and mum Holly. Born premature at 27, she had a severe Grade 4 bleed on the brain and has a number of significant physical and medical needs including cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. She also has post haemorrhagic hydrocephalus - fluid on the brain - and epilepsy. She attends mainstream school and has an EHCP. Her mum Holly says: 'The harsh reality is Hope would not be able to attend school and get an education without this support in place.' Katie Nellist, 18, lives in Oxfordshire with sister Amy, dad Pete and mum Ruth. Katie was diagnosed autistic aged 11 and has PTSD, associated with education. She believes she was failed by the SEND system and had virtually no secondary school education - finally getting an EHCP in year 8 and applying for a place in a specialist school, but none were available. She eventually got an ETOAS (Education Other Than At School) and she is now training to work with horses. An avid campaigner for SEND rights, she was one of six young people who gave evidence in person to the Education Select Committee inquiry 'Solving the SEND Crisis' in March 2025 Arsenal and cricket loving Matthew Harding, 10, lives in Surrey with brother Connor, eight, mum Hayley and dad Ben. Matthew is autistic and has ADHD, dyspraxia and dyslexia. His special needs were identified early as he needed physiotherapy in order to walk. After a long fight - his case was even mentioned at Prime Minister's Questions - he was finally given a place at an ASD base attached to a mainstream school where he has thrived. His parents are certain that his EHCP is essential. Audrey Baynton-Williams, 11, lives in Hove with brother Rex, mum Vicky and dad Ted. Audrey has Down's syndrome and is about to transition from a mainstream primary school to a mainstream secondary. Audrey's mum Vicky, 46, works part-time for a local charity (Amaze) that helps families with children with special educational needs and disabilities. She says: 'Audrey's EHCP has been crucial in allowing her to learn in a mainstream setting. Audrey loves school and being a part of the class.' Young carer Rosie Harris, 16, from Sutton, has two brothers with disabilities. William, now 21, has cerebral palsy and autism with complex epilepsy as a child. James, 13, has retinal dystrophy, resulting in a significant visual impairment. Rosie's cousin, Jack, four, is non-verbal autistic. Rosie, who wants to study law, says: 'Over the past 10 years I have witnessed the impact of the reduction of support for SEND children. I intend to study law to enable me to advocate for children that the current and previous governments are failing.''
Spectator
16-06-2025
- Health
- Spectator
Will the assisted dying vote be delayed?
All is not well with the Labour lot. It has emerged that more than 50 lefty MPs submitted a letter to the Leader of the Commons, Lucy Powell, at the weekend – demanding she intervene to delay this Friday's final third reading vote on Kim Leadbeater's controversial assisted dying bill. The letter blasts the limited opportunities afforded to parliamentarians to speak on the bill and fumes that 'several movers of amendments haven't been able to speak to the changes they have laid'. Oo er. The concerned crowd includes, as reported by the Independent, a group of 2024ers alongside some longer-serving MPs. Former journalists Paul Waugh and Torcuil Crichton have added their signatures to the letter, alongside politicians Florence Eshalomi and Dawn Butler. Their memo makes the case for why the private members bill process is simply not a sufficient way of dealing with such a significant issue. The MPs refer to the assisted dying bill as 'perhaps the most consequential pieces of legislation that has appeared before the House in generations', before going on: This is not a normal Bill. It alters the foundations of our NHS, the relationship between doctor and patient, and it strips power away from parliament, concentrating it in the hands of future health secretaries. The sponsor of the bill has proudly stated that it has received more time in parliament than some government bills have. And yet MPs have had the opportunity to vote on just 12 of 133 amendments tabled at report stage. Just 14 per cent of MPs have been afforded the opportunity to speak in the chamber on this bill. Several movers of amendments haven't been able to speak to the changes they have laid. The fact that such fundamental changes are being made to this Bill at the eleventh hour is not a badge of honour, it is a warning. The private member's bill process has shown itself to be a woefully inadequate vehicle for the introduction of such a foundational change to our NHS and the relationship between doctor and patient. This is no longer about debating the abstract principle of assisted dying. The bill before parliament has created real concern with medical experts and charities. MPs and the government should listen to their expertise. Strong stuff. As Mr S has long reported, the controversial bill has come under significant criticism this year. The replacement of the high court judge safeguard with Leadbeater's proposed 'expert panel' prompted angry outbursts from psychiatrists and their Royal College – one of the medical professions that was expected to make up this panel. The suggestion that the euthanasia process could see a 'voluntary assisted dying commissioner' – dubbed the 'death czar' by online critics – oversee cases provoked more fear. More concerningly, the bill committee struck down an amendment that called for support for those with Down's syndrome when initiating conversations on assisted suicide. And one of the many amendments not voted on was Labour MP Naz Shah's demand for protection for those with eating disorders like anorexia. So will Sir Keir's top team intervene at the final hour? Watch this space…
Press and Journal
14-06-2025
- Health
- Press and Journal
14 years on from car crash, how gardening got Julie-Ann from Drummuir's life back on track
Gardening isn't just a healthy obsession for Julie-Ann Henderson, it also saved her life. Describing it as the best medicine, the 55-year-old from Drummuir, says it got her through one of the darkest periods of her life. 'I was in a car crash 14 years ago,' says Julie-Ann. 'It was pretty serious. 'It left me with fairly substantial injuries that I had to work really hard to overcome. 'My whole life was being sucked down a black hole. 'But gardening pretty much saved my life. 'It has helped my mental health and physical health.' In this remarkable story, Julie-Ann, who is a single mum to her 14-year-old daughter Olivia who has Down's syndrome, opens up about the therapeutic power of horticulture. A force of nature, Julie-Ann is also on a mission to inspire everyone to discover the joys of gardening and will also launch the North Scotland Garden Show in Turriff this weekend. So when did Julie-Ann's gardening obsession begin? 'I was really fortunate that I was brought up on a farm that had a walled garden,' says Julie-Ann. 'I didn't think it was a big deal as I thought everyone had gardens like that. 'But that was the beginning for me, the seed was planted and I loved gardening.' For Julie-Ann, being in the garden was a cathartic feeling like no other. 'It's hard to describe how gardening makes me feel,' says Julie-Ann. 'But as an example, the other day I was having a bad day. 'I was feeling really stressed so I just shut my laptop and went outside. 'I didn't do a lot of gardening, I just pulled a few weeds out from some pots and pottered about with some plants. 'My anxiety disappeared. 'Gardening is so powerful and that's why I like to encourage everyone to give it a go.' And what started out simply as a hobby for Julie-Ann turned into a road to recovery following a car crash. 'After the car crash I thought I wouldn't be able to carry on gardening,' says Julie-Ann. 'But everything changed when I saw a little advert for horticultural courses at Moray College.' Signing up for a horticultural course turned out to be a lifechanging decision for Julie-Ann. 'I learned things about gardening on the course that I had always wanted to know,' says Julie-Ann. 'Biology was my favourite subject at school but back then nobody told me that women could have jobs in biology or horticulture. 'But after going to college I started up my own gardening business. 'Horticulture became my obsession.' As well as starting up her own gardening business, Julie-Ann embarked on a mission to inspire others in the local community to get outside and grow plants and food. Back in 2021, she launched Room to Grow, a project in Huntly teaching council tenants how to grow vegetables. 'A few years ago, I discovered the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation which said that Huntly was the third most food impoverished town in Aberdeenshire,' says Julie-Ann. 'So I set up Room to Grow where we used council house gardens to grow vegetables for people. 'We developed growing patches and composting areas.' Over the years, Julie-Ann has worked tirelessly in her local community in a bid to show people that gardening can be a powerful force for good. 'Most hobbies are expensive except for gardening which can be as cheap as chips,' says Julie-Ann. 'All you need is a little container and you can grow food and save money. 'Also gardeners love to share plants, cuttings, and seeds.' Julie-Ann's positive impact on her local community will be evident this weekend at the North Scotland Garden Show. The two-day horticulture event at Turriff Showground was the brainchild of Julie-Ann. 'I want young people to see that there's hundreds of career opportunities in horticulture and forestry,' says Julie-Ann. 'I would like to see everyone get involved in gardening because it's lifesaving.' For more information about the North Scotland Garden Show, check out the website And if you enjoyed this story, you may also like: Mounthooly Food Forest: Meet the group planting pear and apple trees on roundabout
Wales Online
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Paralympian Ellie Simmonds opens up on feeling 'rejected' by birth mother over her disability
Paralympian Ellie Simmonds opens up on feeling 'rejected' by birth mother over her disability The Team GB swimmer from Swansea delves in to her adoption and whether or not she wants biological children in her new ITV documentary Ellie Simmonds with parents Megan and David with baby Cerys who was born with down's syndrome. (Image: ITV ) Former Team GB swimmer, Ellie Simmonds, has shared the heart-wrenching decision she's grappling with concerning whether to have children, confessing that she's "just not ready" for the emotional weight of the issue. The Paralympic champion was born in Derbyshire but grew up in Swansea from age 11 to make use of the region's excellent swimming facilities. Now 30, the five-time Paralympic gold winner, who hung up her goggles in 2021, is contemplating what life holds next. Ellie, who lives with achondroplasia, a common cause of dwarfism, finds herself at a crossroads about embarking on motherhood. She discussed the topic tonight, Tuesday, May 27, in her new ITV documentary, 'Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children?For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . During her personal journey, Ellie discovers a distressing truth regarding her potential future pregnancies. If she were to conceive with a partner who also has dwarfism, there is a 25% risk their child could inherit a fatal 'double dose' of the condition. Ellie reflects deeply on this information, commenting: "No parent should have to go through that. While I'm not at the stage of wanting a baby just yet, it's something I will have to consider." You can read more about Ellie's baby dilemma here. Article continues below She said: "Being a 30-year-old woman, this is the time people think about starting a family. But my situation is different because I live with a disability, so I understand what it's like to be a disabled person. When people find out they're having a disabled baby, do they worry that they won't be able to cope? Are they nervous? Do they want a picture-perfect baby?" The documentary delved deep into the difficulties faced by prospective parents who are informed their child could have disabilities. Ellie met with different families who have children with disabilities. This included Rosie and Lloyd who learned that their son Arlo was going to be born with dwarfism during a 28-week scan and Megan and David, whose daughter Cerys has Down's syndrome. In the programme, the swimmer examined the array of choices before her, ranging from using sperm donors or freezing her eggs to considering adoption. Ellie is one of five adopted siblings and was adopted just ten days after her birth mother placed her for adoption upon finding out that she was disabled. Reconnecting two years ago while participating in the documentary, 'Finding My Secret Family', it wasn't until the creation of her new candid documentary that Ellie felt ready to discuss such a delicate subject with her birth mother. In the documentary, Ellie reflected on her feelings of being "given up" and being "rejected" because of her disability by her birth mother. She said: "I want to know what it was like for her to decide to put me up for adoption. For her it was 30 years ago, but it's quite a sensitive, super emotional situation." Her birth mother, who chose to remain anonymous during the interview, poured out her heartache: "It's really quite traumatic. It's hard for you to hear. "I don't want to in any way upset you. You're making a decision at the wrong time of your life, because you've just given birth, your hormones are all over the place. You're physically not right, you're mentally not right." She opened up about the daunting obstacles she faced back then, recounting: "There was a lot in the background going on. I kept the pregnancy a secret, I gave birth on my own. I went to a geneticist and she was very abrupt. She said: 'There you go, that's what your baby is going to look like'. I remember thinking I can't cope with this. Maybe I wanted a magic wand." Delving deeper into her personal turmoil, she elaborated: "All I could see was your disability. You can make excuses, but I really did struggle. "I grieved the child that I thought you should have been. It was the biggest decision of my life. To give your biological child away... it was momentous. I just handed you over and that's something you really can never get over. The guilt is horrendous. You live with it all the time." British paralympic gold and bronze medalist Ellie Simmonds poses with her medals after returning from the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil (Image: AFP via Getty Images ) Acknowledging her unwavering thoughts about her child, she expressed: "I didn't ever forget you. I thought about you every day. When I saw you at the Beijing Paralympics, I thought 'That's my Ellie'. I've been a number one fan. "I've watched everything you've done, I'm extremely proud. It's an amazing thing to have a child, there's no love like it. Fast forward 30 years and I realise what a fabulous woman you are. It's just that you were a bit shorter. You're a completely perfect person in every way." As Ellie listened, overcome with emotion and largely silent, her birth mother continued to speak. Ellie eventually mustered the courage to say: "We don't want to blame anyone, decisions are decisions. You're amazing". Yet, her birth mother responded with raw honesty: "I don't know Ellie, I think sometimes it was quite cowardly to be honest." Article continues below Reflecting on their heartfelt exchange, Ellie observed: "It seems that she held that guilt for a long time. That's really sad. We put a lot of pressure on the mum in society. It's amazing that she's so honest and open. I think people's fear of a disability is actually a fear of what's inside of them."
Daily Record
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Charity's show garden will be relocated to Cumbernauld park following appearance at Chelsea Flower Show
After the event, which takes place on May 20-24, the display by Down's Syndrome Scotland will be moved to Palacerigg Country Park with the assistance of local charity Watch Us Grow, which works with adults who have additional support needs. A charity's show garden will be relocated to a park in Cumbernauld following its appearance at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. After the event, which takes place on May 20-24, the display by Down's Syndrome Scotland will be moved to Palacerigg Country Park with the assistance of local charity Watch Us Grow, which works with adults who have additional support needs. The new site for the show garden will be adjacent to the existing Watch Us Grow house and garden and was previously used for goat grazing. Designed by Nick Burton and Duncan Hall of Burton Hall Garden Design. the garden takes visitors on a journey through the life of someone with Down's syndrome and highlights their many unique qualities and barriers they face. Features of the garden will include a building created by Old School Fabrications in East Lothian. This was commissioned to feel comforting and reflect the compassion, kindness and joy that come naturally to many people with Down's syndrome. A ground-level water pools with submerged bridge will represent the difficulties often faced by people with Down's syndrome, expressing their resilience and determination. Durability will be symobolised by a Scots pine on the other side of the pool. The cause of Down's Syndrome is a third copy of chromosome 21. The design of the garden representes these numbers, with three water features and three seating areas, while bespoke benches by traditional craftsman Laurence McIntosh have three feet and 21 slats. Ceramic artist Frances Priest has provided 21 tiles and the garden will also feature a bunting display of 21 'odd, knitted socks', which resemble chromosomes, will be hung inside the garden building. North Lanarkshire Council will support the relocation project. The restorative justice team has begun preparing the site, and it will also work with the two charities to support its long-term maintenance and training of volunteers. The council will also use its communications resources to increase public awareness of the relocated garden and its launch event, in order to attract visitors. The show garden will also benefit from various recent improvements to the park itself, such as improved pathways, additional play areas and updated signage.
