Stan in the media

Broadcast media appearances 

YouTube channel 

Newspaper, magazine and online

15 December 2017 - Genie let out of the bottle by LD-friendly production - Learning Disability Today 

18 October 2017 - Letter to the i newspaper about comedians joking about learning disability

24 March 2017 - Barnet Press - Barnet dad gives candid insight into life with son with Down's Syndrome 

21 March 2017 - Meet Stan, The Teen Proving Down’s Syndrome Doesn’t Stop You Living Life To The Full - Huffington Post - with video 

5 October 2016 - The Sun - Talking about the Sally Phillips documentary 

21 March 2016 - Huffington Post - 10 Things I’ve Learned About Having A Child With Down’s Syndrome

3 November 2014 - Community Care - ‘My son’s social care support shows me another side to the system I work in’

29 October 2014 - Learning Disability Today - Time for more complex stories about people with Down’s syndrome

21 December 2013 - Daily Mirror - College entrant Rion Holcombe is a pioneer for young people with Down's Syndrome - and others will follow

29 January 2013 - Letter to the Evening Standard about the Undateables 

28 October 2009 - Letter to Independent about The Specials 

I found my place in the Sun

I was a bit nervous buying the newspaper. I was pretty sure that Stan and I would be in there but newspapers can sometimes 'drop' items if bigger news comes along. So I got a copy of the Sun and our story was featured. (Printed edition below). 

The kerfuffle was started by actress Sally Phillips who asked on a BBC2 documentary: What would a world without Down's Syndrome look like? 

Steve talks about this on his latest podcast

I found it fascinating, not just because of the stuff about Down's Syndrome. But Sally goes on to look at geneticism generally and how we're on the verge of being able to choose kids who aren't disabled, aren't ginger and are good at maths. It's just that kids with Down's on in the vanguard. You can't tell if someone in the womb will go on to have an autistic spectrum condition...just yet. But perhaps soon you will be able to and that raises divisive ethical questions.

When the Sun contacted me I saw it as a good opportunity to spread the word about Down's Syndrome. As a parent, it can be hard work but it can also be rewarding. 

Stan watched much of the documentary with us. He was interested to see other people with Down's on TV. And Sally's love of Olly, and her passion about the issue, made for a really good show. I wish there had been more on geneticism more widely. But it was a good effort and it certainly got people talking.