Concerns over new Down syndrome law advocated by Tory MP Dr Liam Fox

Disputes arose over new laws designed to give people with Down syndrome better access to health, housing and education.

Activists – including parents of children in this situation – criticized the law passed on Friday, calling it discriminatory.

Tory Congressman Dr. The parliamentary bill, led by Liam Fox, has received its final reading in the House of Lords and will now pass Royal Assent to become the Down Syndrome Act.

In essence, it will protect the 47,000 people in the UK with Down as a group that justifies special provisions different from other learning difficulties.

However, her daughter, Down syndrome activist Rosa Monckton, warned in a stern statement to The Mail on Sunday that “it’s only a bill for people with Down syndrome, except for all people with disabilities. It’s going to be intellectual, in a different form.” .

He adds: “This is exactly why I founded the charity Team Domenica, named after my daughter, and it was clear that this was meant to be for all young adults with learning disabilities, not just those with Down syndrome.” .

Former international trade secretary Dr Fox defended the bill: “It’s there to make sure people with Down syndrome get their rights because not many people get it.”

The authors of the bill note that people with Down face certain challenges. These include an increased risk of respiratory infections such as Covid, congenital heart problems that affect around half of all children with the condition, and a higher risk of premature death than people with other learning disabilities.

But critics argue that any change to the law must protect the rights of all mentally handicapped people, not just Down’s.

Carol Boys, CEO of the Down Syndrome Association, said: “We are concerned about the creation of hierarchies of people with learning difficulties. We would like the bill to include other mentally handicapped people as well.’

They also wonder if it can provide effective support.

Dr. Liam Fox in the picture passed the Down syndrome bill through the legislature. It is currently awaiting royal approval. Some disability activists have argued that protecting people with Down syndrome discriminates against others with various learning disabilities.

Monckton said, “I don’t doubt it’s in good faith, but the law is directive telling lawmakers to think carefully about what steps to take. There is no guarantee of supply. Legislation is already in place to meet the needs of all mentally handicapped people, but municipalities often do not meet these legal requirements. This has to be addressed. What is needed is the real problem.’

Other parents of children with learning difficulties echoed his fears. Ramandeep Kaur, 47, of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, with her teenage son Harry Down, says: “I’m worried about Harry being put on a pedestal now. His friend Joey has various learning difficulties, but does not have Down syndrome. It would be very unfair for Harry to suddenly receive preferential treatment.

Joey’s father, 63, from London, Stephen Unwin, agrees: “I know families with children with Down syndrome and we are all concerned that this law will create a double standard for how people with Down syndrome are cared for. They have learning disabilities”.

Joey, 25, is speechless and has epilepsy, which became more severe when his father competed with local authorities for a place at a private high school.

Joey now lives in a home with private caregivers, but evidence must be presented to an evaluation committee each year to ensure he continues to work. Although Stephen says his son’s needs are being taken into account for now, he fears that will not happen if his condition worsens.

Remember how difficult it was to get Joey into a private home when his epilepsy became a serious problem. By keeping time, if there is no one to help him, he may have a seizure and then die.’

Stephen fears that offering special support to people with Down syndrome will reduce the government’s budget for other learning difficulties and potentially put his child’s health at risk.

Like Joey, Harry’s biggest problem is speech difficulties and he’s seen a speech therapist his entire life. The 14-year-old also attends a school for children with special needs. Although Harry is currently receiving the care he needs, it is thanks to Ramandeep’s constant vigilance.

The bill was passed by the House of Lords on Friday and is now awaiting royal assent.

A few years ago, the local government reduced Harry’s access to speech therapy from weekly to monthly, and his mother had to explain that without further support his language would not improve.

Despite this, he thinks that his son should not be treated as preferentially over other friends with learning difficulties.

“Even though Harry doesn’t know anything about the bill, I think he’ll be furious if he finds out that his non-Down syndrome friends are getting the support they don’t.

“He sees no difference between himself and his friends.”

Dr. But Fox believes that the new law, rather than excluding people with other learning difficulties, “will open the door” for all people with learning difficulties to get the support they deserve. “I hope,” he adds. [the Bill] will provide a mechanism by which we can discover services and how they are provided… and improve the destiny of all”.

During his tenure in the House of Commons, the bill received support from all sides and was supported by 90 disability organizations across the country, including one of the largest, Menjab.

“People with Down syndrome are all individuals, but they have very specific health and learning needs and it is vital that they be recognized,” says Rachael Ross, who has 17-year-old son Max disability from Hinton Daubney, near Portsmouth. She and her husband, Ken, are part of the National Down Syndrome Policy Group, which prepared the bill.

It makes clear that the life expectancy of people with Down syndrome has increased dramatically over the past 50 years, from 13 in the 1960s to 58 today. This means that many of them live longer than their parents and therefore depend on the government to support them in the absence of relatives.

The legislation will now be open to public consultation to determine the details. Dr. Says Fox: “Services are erratic. Medical care will be better in some parts of the country than others. In that sense, it’s about everyone being on equal terms and getting the best.’