Jackie Baillie MSP to launch new website for Down's Syndrome Scotland
Press release February 2005
A new website to help provide advice, support and information to people with Down's syndrome, their families, carers, friends and a wide range of professionals is to be launched by Jackie Baillie MSP on Tuesday 22 February at The Scotsman Hotel in Edinburgh.
Karen Watchman, Director of Down's Syndrome Scotland, explained: Thanks to a legacy left to us last year, we decided to make use of the funds to update both our website and general information leaflet so that they are as useful and relevant to as many people as possible who need to know and understand about Down's syndrome.
We are a small team here in Edinburgh and there are a number of committees throughout Scotland which concentrate on local activities and so we felt it vital that we had an effective information and communication mechanism that is available all day, every day. We have worked closely with users of the site all the way through the creation of the new website and, with their help, we are confident that we now have a fresh, user-friendly and informative site.
We were thrilled when Jackie Baillie agreed to launch the new website and accompanying leaflet and are very grateful to Norwich Union who have sponsored the launch event.
Commenting on her decision to support the launch, Jackie Baillie said: I play an active part in the Cross Party Group for Learning Disability and we aim to give a voice to people with learning disabilities in Scotland, their families and carers and the agencies in the voluntary and independent sector who support them.
Being involved in the launch of this important new communication tool for Down's Syndrome Scotland is an ideal opportunity to give my support to the tremendous work done by the organisation and to help demystify some of the misconceptions which surround the condition.
Down's Syndrome Scotland is using the new website and information leaflet to underpin some key messages:
- For many people with Down's syndrome, the biggest obstacle that they face is not their learning disability but the attitudes of people they meet.
- People with Down's syndrome are people first who just happen to have a learning disability and should be treated according to their age and experience - an adult with Down's syndrome should not be spoken to, or treated, like a child.
- Many adults with Down's syndrome can live independently or with appropriate support and can make a valued and valuable contribution to the community in which they live.
- People with Down's syndrome are now expected to live to middle age and beyond.
- Although the chance of having a baby with Down's syndrome does increase with age, there are more babies with Down's syndrome born to younger women, as this is when most women have children.
- Down's syndrome occurs at random, caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21 in all of the body's cells. It is rarely hereditary and it is no-one's "fault".
- The birth of a baby with Down's syndrome should be celebrated - go ahead and give gifts and cards!
- While people with Down's syndrome will share some common physical characteristics, they look more closely like their parents and siblings whilst having their own individual personality.
- Many children with Down's syndrome will attend the same mainstream school as their siblings.
Also attending the launch is Paula Sage, star of the award-winning film Afterlife, a rising star in the acting profession who has Down's syndrome, and James Withers, the organisation's representative on the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP), the first representative on the SYP with a learning disability. Director Karen Watchman will announce at the event that both Paula and James have agreed to become the first Ambassadors for Down's Syndrome Scotland.