Nov 08 2008
More on Denying Residency because of Down syndrome
Last week, I told you about the German doctor in Australia who is being denied permanent residency in that country because his 13 yr old son has Down syndrome.
Today’s news brings a story of a British midwife who was invited to Australia to offer her services to the country, but, like Dr. Moeller, she has been denied permanent residency because she has a child with Down syndrome.
This is not news in the sense that this is something new that is happening. Countries have been denying residency to families with children with Down syndrome from the beginning of time! However, this may become a turning point in history for these families who are denied merely because their child has extra chromosomes.
In the case of Dr. Moeller, the Down Syndrome Association of Victoria is taking a stand. They have made a petition for people to sign that they will take to the government to ask that they review Dr. Moeller’s case. You can sign that petition here.
In my opinion, it is a matter of educating the government. Most governments look at Down syndrome and they see the outdated information. They feel as though this individual can not be a productive member of society and that the individual will cost the government because they imagine this individual with severe health problems and in need of constant round-the-clock care.
This, of course, is not the case, and I think if we work to educate the governments in all countries on what Down syndrome really is, things will change for everyone throughout the community.
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