A world without Down's syndrome? Online resistance on Twitter: #worldwithoutdowns and #justaboutcoping. Issue 7 (9th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Burch, Leah
• Is Part Of: Disability & society. Volume 32:Issue 7(2017)
• Page Start: 1085
• Page End: 1089
• Publication Date: 2017-08-09
• Subjects: Online resistance -- Twitter -- Down's syndrome -- prenatal screening -- dishuman; People with disabilities -- Periodicals; People with disabilities -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Special education -- Periodicals; Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; 362.4
• DOI: 10.1080/20550340.2017.1330453
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0968-7599

Abstract

Abstract: Presented by actress and comedian Sally Phillips, A World Without Down's Syndrome has brought important ethical debates regarding prenatal screening into the public domain. By talking to people with Down's syndrome, family members, and professionals, Sally has presented a nuanced and thorough examination of the type of world we are living in. Following the documentary, Twitter users have continued to engage with debates and have created a resilient platform for challenging public attitudes. 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.