Jessie Moss has written for The Spinoff Parents before about her daughter’s syndrome and her quest for a diagnosis. Here she writes about a new stage in their lives – how she and her partner will tell their precious child about her differences. When we received our girl’s diagnosis last year, we didn’t tell her. … Read more
Spinoff Parents columnist and advocate for children with disabilities Tessa Prebble writes about ableism and why the able-bodied community need to stop ignoring or excusing it. Picture this: you’re looking for a place to live for you and your partner and your three year old daughter. You look for months and then finally find something … Read more
The issue isn’t just how many homes we’re building, it’s what kind. Erin Gough, a wheelchair user, makes a plea for more accessible housing. I live on the fourth floor of a five-storey apartment building in central Wellington. It’s not fully wheelchair accessible, but it’s the most manageable I’ve been able to find in my … Read more
Should we stop using the term ‘special needs’? Spinoff Parents columnist and advocate for children with disabilities Tessa Prebble looks at a new campaign to retire the phrase, launched to mark World Down Syndrome Day. In the world of social justice, language is important. I consider myself fairly woke, or if I’m honest, in a continuous … Read more
Jessica Hammond Doube’s daughters are at risk at every playdate, every time they go to a restaurant or cafe, and at school every day. And at Easter, the risks posed by their severe food allergies are even more pronounced. Here Jessica writes about how allergies affect her family’s life, and what she wishes other parents … Read more
How important is a diagnosis? Jessie Moss is a mother who knows all to well how much a diagnosis can change a life – in fact, it saved her daughter’s. The day had arrived and we were eager to get on with it. As four adults sat awkwardly around a child size table for sick … Read more
People’s ability to make choices is sometimes impaired, but murder of disabled people is still murder. The systemic forces that underlie such shocking events have never been adequately addressed, argues Robyn Hunt. The case of Donella Knox, convicted of murdering her daughter Ruby, represents the dark side of disability. It is the flip side of … Read more
Grace Stratton is the 17 year old editor and founder of the youth website Letters to Corey. She’s also a wheelchair user. She explains how she always felt that defined her – until one day, it didn’t. My name is Grace Stratton and I am supposed to be here to talk about my disability. However … Read more
Many parents make the reasonable decision to terminate their pregnancy following an in utero diagnosis of Down Syndrome. But as more sophisticated tests make it easier and less risky to diagnose early, Tessa Prebble wonders whether we’ve really thought through the consequences. When I found out I was pregnant, my GP immediately handed me a … Read more
For Tessa Prebble, whose own daughter was born with congenital issues, the story of Aria evokes only sadness – and anger at a medical system that let a struggling family down. Tessa Prebble is a force. She writes with great courage and she’s changing the world. Here she shares her views on a heartbreaking story … Read more