Hansard

I congratulate John Wilson on bringing the debate to the chamber, and I take the opportunity to thank Down’s Syndrome Scotland for the work that it does and for the briefing that it provided ahead of today’s debate, which I found helpful.

I want to focus my speech on two little girls who have had an impact on my life at different stages. Seventeen years ago, a little girl called Abigail entered my family’s life. My parents had signed up to Barnardo’s Scotland’s home from home respite service and, as a result, became respite care providers to a local family whose four-year-old daughter, Abigail, had Down’s syndrome. I freely admit that at that time, as a teenager who was still at secondary school, I was not knowledgeable about Down’s syndrome. However, from interacting with Abigail on the occasions when she would come to visit our family, I learned that people with Down’s syndrome are as capable as any of the rest of us of living life to its fullest and enjoying life to its fullest, when they are given the opportunities to do so.

Abigail now lives in Devon, has attended college, and turns 21 next month. My parents will be going down for her 21st birthday party, having already attended her 18th. Thanks to the advent of social media, I am able to keep in contact with Abigail once again, despite the fact that she has moved away from my area.

The second little girl whom I would like to talk about is called Poppy. Her mum, Debra, is my wife’s friend, and the family live not far from us in Aberdeen. Debra did not know that she was having a Down’s syndrome baby. The blood test did not show her as having the one in 150 risk that would then allow further diagnostic screening to take place. I realise that the national health service guidance says that that blood test should not be taken as an absolute and that the fact that a woman is not shown as having the one in 150 risk does not eliminate the potential that her child might be born with Down’s syndrome. What it means is that a post-natal diagnosis is required.

Poppy is a delightful and happy girl, who attended nursery with my son—they were Joseph and Mary in the Seaton nursery’s nativity play. Poppy has gone to the local primary school—Dyce primary school—which is a mainstream place of education. That emphasises the point that John Wilson made and which was highlighted by Down’s Syndrome Scotland in its briefing, which is that many children with Down’s syndrome attend mainstream schools. Although that is obviously apparent to parents of children who attend school alongside a child with Down’s syndrome, wider society perhaps does not recognise that the opportunity for mainstream education is as open to children with Down’s syndrome as it is to any other child.

I have noted the work that Down’s Syndrome Scotland has been doing, because Poppy’s mother Debra has done some fundraising for the organisation. She is among many people who value the support that it provides to families.

I note the 2018 congress, which John Wilson highlighted, and I note the range of subjects that will be included among the discussions at it. The congress is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the work that is being done internationally and to learn and give lessons about Down’s syndrome internationally.

I entirely agree with John Wilson that we all need to work together. I commend the work of Down’s Syndrome Scotland. My experiences will ensure that I will continue to do my bit to share the knowledge that I have gained and to challenge the myths that Down’s Syndrome Scotland has highlighted so that we give the best possible opportunities in society to people with Down’s syndrome.