A world without Down’s syndrome? Exploring online resistance on Twitter

What is it about?

This piece considers the explores some of the important ethical debates concerning prenatal screening that has been brought into the public attention by a recent documentary presented by comedian and actress, Sally Phillips. In her documentary. titled 'A world Without Down's Syndrome,' Sally talks to a number of people with Down's Syndrome, family members, and professionals, to critically examine the possible consequences of advanced screening opportunities. Reflecting upon her own experiences, Sally questions the current practice that presents Down's Syndrome as a tragedy to new parents, and seeks to present alternative views. This paper explores the ways in which Twitter hashtags have provided a space for such important and long overdue conversations. While it would not be possible to provide a full overview of the topical conversations that the two hashtags have provoked, I aim to focus on some of the most prominent topics. The following, then, will explore the potential of alternative narratives that resist, and disrupt, normative notions of the human using the hashtags #worldwithoutdowns and #justaboutcoping.

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Why is it important?

This piece hopes to contribute to a growing literature that questions disabling practices that continually position disabled people as a tragedy to be explained or corrected.