Page 28 - Community Living Magazine 34-3

arts: portrayal

What followed was both extraordinary
and devastating to members of the
Down syndrome community, as an openly
public debate commenced on the very
validity of the existence of people with
Down syndrome.
It became clear that, in the court of
public opinion, people with Down
syndrome are viewed as burdensome and
to be coped with.
People with Down syndrome who spoke
out were told they did not understand the
storyline. Parents of people with Down
How Emmerdale got framed as pro-lifers and, at worst,
syndrome who spoke out were, at best,
described as selfish for knowingly bringing
it so very wrong such a life into the world. We were told to
watch the episodes before we judged.
The scripting of the Emmerdale storyline
was accurate in some ways, because it did
Emmerdale: an opportunity to illustrate the reality of Down syndrome was missed depict some of the turbulent and intense
emotions that a couple may feel when a
A storyline in ITV soap opera Emmerdale has caused outrage in couple receive a prenatal diagnosis. I
the Down syndrome community and raised some disturbing know this because my husband and I went
ethical issues. Máire Lea-Wilson explains why through the very same thing.
However, that is where the accuracies
ended. The storyline drew out many
inaccurate old tropes and stereotypes
was 34 weeks pregnant when I learned just different in the same way that every about the syndrome, without any context,
that it was likely that my second child person is a unique individual. They have that will serve only to perpetuate fear and
I ould have Down syndrome. not learned to discriminate. stigma around it.
w
I had spent an hour lying on an The fear and uncertainty I felt in those While the producers of Emmerdale may
uncomfortable bed, being scanned by two early days lies in such stark contrast from have had honourable intentions in
strangers who made it clear that the baby our lived reality. I have often wondered covering an “emotive topic”, their failure
was not developing as expected and they how I was so certain of the difficult and to engage meaningfully with the Down
were about to give us “bad news”. challenging future I imagined, when I syndrome community
We decided against invasive diagnostic had never actually known anyone meant they skirted over
testing and instead to have noninvasive with Down syndrome. a complex and
prenatal testing to give us a better idea of The reality is that we lead a nuanced debate
what lay ahead. perfectly normal life, full of in a deeply
We were given no information about the usual chaos that comes problematic,
the lived experience of Down syndrome, with having two young irresponsible
just a long list of possible medical children. Where had and dangerous
problems. We were told our “options” this unconscious bias way.
repeatedly, in cold medical terms – come from? Their
continue the pregnancy or abort. We The source of the storyline was
were told that abortion is what most unconscious bias, which heavily biased
couples choose to do. is pervasive in society, by presenting
Two weeks later, Aidan was born. He became abundantly clear the reality for
was such a beautiful little baby, with big during the recent storyline in expectant
blue almond-shaped eyes, a tiny button Emmerdale, where Laurel and parents while
nose and a tuft of dark hair. He was Jai choose to terminate their failing to represent
perfect but we were still sad about pregnancy following a diagnosis the reality of people
that extra chromosome, which we were of Down syndrome. with Down syndrome
told would make our lives so much The producers claim that the scripting who live rich, happy,
more challenging. had been done in a fair and balanced way, and fulfilled lives.
As we got to know Aidan and saw more drawing on research done with medical This begs the question: how have we
of his wonderful personality, we realised professionals, the charity Antenatal found ourselves in a position where an
he was not actually very different from Results and Choices and those with entire community can stand up and say Ian Pudsey: Emmerdale; family: Máire Lea-Wilson
any other baby. lived experience. this is wrong, this is hurtful and this is
Aidan and his older brother Tom have What they left out was that they had discrimination and find themselves at
become our best teachers. To them, Aidan failed to perform research, in any odds with broader society who view the
is just Aidan, with no labels. Aidan is not meaningful way, with those with lived Emmerdale storyline as completely
different in any remarkable way – he is experience of Down syndrome. acceptable and perhaps even “brave”?

28 Vol 34 No 3 | Spring 2021 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk