Steve Palmer's blog about his son Stanley - who has Down's Syndrome - & the extended family.

Tuesday 21 December 2010

Proud family - Xmas show

I’ve held back from writing this because I don’t want it to be too mushy. Oh, alright then; a proud family was in the audience to see Stan perform in the Xmas show last week. His fantastic cousin was in the front row, gesturing all of the actions. This was, however, the only help he needed. Stan was on stage, but vitally, without a learning support assistant ~ and he was fantastic. It was a real “If I’d have known on the day he was born” moment. And a great advert for mainstreaming education (for those that want it). It was a brilliant moment; there wasn’t a dry eye in our family. (alright, his bro was cool about it).

Thursday 9 December 2010

Family Guy

Family Guy has been made famous by Sarah Palin who complained because it has a character with Down’s in it. The actor is Andrea Fay Friedman. I saw a small part of an episode the other night and Andrea was back in it. What a brilliant way to cover learning disability. Great script.

Thursday 28 October 2010

Trisomy Films presents 'Up Syndrome'

These films are great - they appear to have been made about ten years ago but only edited and You Tubed recently............

Film one

Film two

Thursday 30 September 2010

Touchdown's

Last Friday the Snohmish Panthers lost to the Lake Stevens Vikings 35-6. Ike Ditzenberger, a junior, scored the only points for Snohmish on a 51 yard touchdown run in the closing seconds of the game.

On instructions from their coach, Vikings defenders not only let Ditzenberger score, but made the play look real with several diving attempts that always came up just a little short of stopping Ditzenberger's emotional run.

Watch the film here

Tuesday 25 May 2010

Ricky Gervais calls Susan Boyle 'a mong'

http://www.musicrooms.net/showbiz/7654-Ricky-Gervais-Calls-Susan-Boyle-Mong.html

However, unlike Frankie Boyle, Gervais has at least made an attempt to justify his comments....see "Week one hundred and nineteen - May 2010" - "I clearly explain that words change and that at no point am I referring to anyone with Down's Syndrome. Not only am I not referring to people with Down's Syndrome I also explain that I am not associating the word with its old derogatory meaning. I also do it as part of a routine about comedians taking responsibility for everything they say. I hope this is acceptable."

http://rickygervais.com/thissideofthetruth.php

Thursday 20 May 2010

Eight years on


I was struggling with the photocopier. How many bits of paper can get jammed in one machine? Text message: who's that? Well, it was from the Mrs., forwarded from Stan's speech and language lesson. A video of Stan, clearly saying: "XXX is eating chocolate cake."

The text came in eight years to the moment that Stan was being prepped for his first heart surgery on 20 May, 2002.

It was a wonderful moment this morning because it reminded me of how far we've come. And reminded me of the amazing friends and family that stood by us in our darkest hour. And reminded me of the incredible team at Great Ormond Street who I thank every minute of every hour for saving Stan's life.

Thanks to them, every time I look at both of my boys, my heart skips a beat.

Wednesday 21 April 2010

"My sister has Down's........"

Thanks to Jason Fitch, who has blogged on this really important issue of sibling love >>>>> I asked my oldest if he wanted to read it, however and he turned down my kind request, pointing out eloquently that he lives it daily.....................

Monday 12 April 2010

Frankie is a Boyle

Comedian Frankie Boyle had an on-stage run-in with a mother of a Down's syndrome child after he made fun of victims. The former panellist on BBC quiz Mock The Week devoted five minutes of a stand-up show to a foul tirade against sufferers and their parents by criticising their hair, clothing and voices. He then turned on the audience, picking on a couple - Sharon and Keiron Smith - in the front row and accusing them of talking. Laughter turned to awkward silence when Mrs Smith told Boyle: 'My daughter has Down's syndrome and I'm very upset.'
Boyle was unrepentant. He made fun of the couple before saying: 'This is my last tour. I don't give a **** what people think.'

Frankie Boyle story here >>>>>

Sharon's blog >>>>>

Eighteen year old with DS from Scotland responds >>>>>

Interesting discussion by people not directly involved in the story>>>>>

My letter to Frankie Boyle's management company:

Hi Frankie - one way that my son doesn't live up to the tiresome stereotypes that you were pandering on stage is the really rude sign he gives when people upset him. We're trying to discourage him from using this, but in your case we're happy to make a massive exception. Steve

Saturday 20 February 2010

Sarah's been Palin'ed


Former US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has criticised TV show Family Guy for "mocking" her son who has Down's syndrome. Sarah Palin criticised by an actress with Down’s syndrome. 

But I think that this is a great development. The character depicted in Family Guy was a positive role model. The reference to Sarah Palin could have been looking to the future when Trig is accepted for what he is, going out to dinner and being 'in charge'. Well done Family Guy and to this actress.

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