Meeting of the Parliament 22 March 2018
Johann Lamont is absolutely right, and we are having those conversations. I think it was Johann Lamont who mentioned the importance of reducing stigma among employers and others in order to give people the life chances that they need. For example, Loren Gemmell is studying marketing, but are employers going to see her marketing skills rather than her Down’s? That is the challenge for employers.
Every person in Scotland with a learning disability, including those who have Down’s syndrome, has the right to lead a meaningful life. However, despite the improvements in the lives of people who have Down’s syndrome, we know that many people experience the negative stigma that still exists. It is crucial to recognise that Down’s syndrome is only part of a person and that people first language, which Johann Lamont also talked about, should always be used. A child with Down’s syndrome is a child first and foremost.
During July this year, as Alexander Stewart and others mentioned, Scotland will host in Glasgow the 13th world Down syndrome congress. Led by Down’s Syndrome Scotland, the congress will offer a unique environment for people to share experiences and learning with families from all over the world. The event will enable families to feel part of a global community and connect with people from diverse cultures, backgrounds and communities who face similar challenges and concerns to their own.
The most recent triennial congress was held in Chennai, India, during 2015, and a team from Down’s Syndrome Scotland travelled to Chennai to promote the congress in Glasgow and take part in the official handover ceremony. During the ceremony, a film of the First Minister being interviewed by Andrew Maclntyre, a man with Down’s syndrome, was shown. Andrew is one of the three leading commissioners in a team of 12 commissioners, all of whom have Down’s syndrome and all of whom are participating in a specific training programme funded by the Scottish Government in the lead-up to the congress.
Earlier this week, the commissioners ran training sessions for more than 250 participants from Glasgow’s taxi and hospitality sectors, with a further 150 being expected to participate in future sessions before the congress takes place. An estimated 1,250 delegates are expected to attend the congress. People who have Down’s syndrome will be supported to be involved in all aspects of delivery of the congress.
Yesterday, on 21 March, we marked world Down’s syndrome awareness day—a symbolic date reflecting the scientific advances in understanding the causes of Down’s syndrome. During 2012, the secretary general of the United Nations stated:
“On this day, let us reaffirm that persons with Down syndrome are entitled to the full and effective enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Let us each do our part to enable children and persons with Down syndrome to participate fully in the development and life of their societies on an equal basis with others. Let us build an inclusive society for all.”
Let us, across the chamber, echo those words today and reaffirm our commitment in this Parliament to work together to achieve transformational change in the lives of each and every person in Scotland who has Down’s syndrome, committing to seeing every person as a person: as an individual with talent and a valuable contribution to make.
13:32 Meeting suspended.