This World Down syndrome day, WCAT chairman Jamie McCallum reflects on life with daughter Rosie and how his views have changed over the past 10 years. Ten years ago this month, I sat on the train to Aberdeen, unable to get an internet connection to send emails, and started typing. I poured my heart out Read more about ONE DECADE DOWN[…]
On the 6th July, Heidi Crowter and Aidan (with mum Máire) are going to the High Court to challenge the law that allows termination to full term if a baby has a diagnosis of Down syndrome. Jamie McCallum, chairman of Wouldn’t Change A Thing and dad to Rosie who has Down syndrome tells us why Read more about THE BALANCING OF RIGHTS[…]
Jamie McCallum That’s the clarification that many parents of a child with Down syndrome have had to start many conversations with over the last few weeks. I’m tired of saying it. Tired of seeing other people having to say it. Most of all, I’m tired of it falling on deaf ears when it is said. Read more about A blog that’s NOT about the “right to choose”[…]
Jamie McCallum Having a child with Down Syndrome has its challenges at times. I doubt that I’d be sticking my neck out too much by suggesting that all of us parents have wished the Down Syndrome away at one time or another. Then I imagine that I really and truly could do that. What if? Read more about Down Syndrome Awareness Month: Why We Wouldn’t Change A Thing[…]
Jamie McCallum While trying to make sense of our new reality, I found myself reminded of when our daughter was born. It was definitely the most significant trial of our lives to date. Rosie has Down’s Syndrome, which came as a great shock to us at the time. Whilst the situations are so very different, Read more about 3 REASONS WHY SEN PARENTS ARE BETTER EQUIPPED FOR A PANDEMIC[…]
“I’M sorry to say that your child has a condition. If you choose to go ahead with the pregnancy, she will have a 42 per cent chance of developing cancer in her lifetime, a 17 per cent chance of a stroke. Here is a leaflet detailing many of the other risk factors. We have a Read more about Educating Rosie – March 2017[…]
THIS year may go down as the pivotal moment in history that led to people like our daughter Rosie becoming extinct. Mankind may reflect for centuries to come about a particular species of human being, with a subtly different genetic profile, high in emotional intelligence, with a lower than average IQ, that was systematically eradicated Read more about Who Wants to Live in a World Without Rosies? – March 2016[…]
YOU will be your child’s greatest handicap.” Those words were spoken to me by Pandora Summerfield 12 months ago, after I’d written an essay about the shock journey my wife and I took following the birth of our daughter Rosie, who has Down’s Syndrome. Summerfield is chief executive of Down’s Syndrome Scotland, and her prophecy Read more about What Not to Say About Rosie – March 2015[…]
“Abort it and try again”. That is Professor Dawkins’ opinion on the course of action one should take if you find out that your unborn foetus has Down’s Syndrome. I speak as someone who is a fan of Dawkins’ books, has an academic science education, is considered to be expert in the field in which Read more about Once I would have agreed with Dawkins. Then my daughter was born with Down’s Syndrome. – The Independent – August 2014[…]
MY wife noticed first. Barely half an hour had passed since the birth of our second daughter, Rosie, when Victoria remarked that she couldn’t tell who the baby looked like. She then asked if I thought she had Down’s Syndrome. I laughed at first, thinking that the drugs from the caesarean section were still affecting Read more about Getting to Know Rosie – March 2014[…]