Family Sues After Seeing Altered, 'Offensive' Images of Son with Down Syndrome

by Susanna Kim from ABC News:
A Nashville family is suing Cox Media and other defendants after they posted altered images of their son with Down syndrome with descriptions that read "Retarded News" and other "offensive" mischaracterizations.
Pamela and Bernard Holland are parents of Adam, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth. The suit, filed with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, claims the the Hollands were shocked to learn that an image of Adam taken in July 2004, when he was 17, was used for commercial use with "defamatory" descriptions, the Hollands' lawsuit states.
Pamela Holland declined to comment to ABC News on the suit.
In the original photo, Adam is holding a sketch he created while attending an art class at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center in Nashville. But a radio station in Tampa, Fla., that is owned by Cox Media Group, WHPT-FM, used the image on its website in which Adam holds a sign that reads "Retarded News."
The lawsuit does not describe how the radio station obtained the image.
Last summer, the group "Spread the Word to End the Word," which campaigns to end the use of the word "retard" to describe people with mental disabilities, contacted the radio station about the photo.
The program director of the radio station wrote an email to the campaign, apologizing for the use of the photo by "The Cowhead Show."

NDSC Convention and Live Streaming Schedule

The 40th Annual Convention
Each year, thousands of people from across the globe attend the National Down Syndrome Congress Annual Convention.  For most, it’s to hear the latest information from world-renowned experts.  For others, it’s a great vacation. But, for nearly all, there’s the one-of-a-kind NDSC family reunion feeling that permeates the convention weekend. 
In July 2012 our 40th Annual Convention will be heading to our Nation’s Capitol in Washington, DC. From your house to the White House, it will be an opportunity to share in the  milestones of the last 40 years, advocate for continued progress through a Day on the Hill, and  embrace all individuals with DS as they live the dream.

We hope to see you July 19 -22, 2012 for the 40th Annual NDSC Convention

NDSC Convention from your Couch

To commemorate our 40th Annual Convention, the National Down Syndrome Congress invites you to participate in the festivities – wherever you are!

For the first time in Convention history, we are live streaming 17 workshops and sessions from Washington, D.C., this July. Share the experience of “the world’s largest family reunion” anywhere, and learn the latest developments and advancements from the Down syndrome community’s leading voices.

Registration for access to Live Streaming will be available July 2. Access to the recorded videos will be available until June 1, 2013. To register simply click on registration, open an account if you don’t have one and choose the live streaming option.

Live streaming schedule.

Select NDSC Convention Workshops Streamed Live

from the NDSC:
For the first time ever, selected workshops will be streamed live for families and professionals who are unable to make the trip to Washington, DC. While we expect this year's convention to be one of our best attended ever, we are excited about the possibilities related to extending our reach even more! For a minimal fee, NDSC members will be able to take a peek into the largest gathering of its kind anywhere in the world. Stay tuned for details about the workshops chosen for streaming, and all of the details related to accessing the content on your computer.

Facebook takes down internet trolling abuse of girl with Down Syndrome

from Parentdish by Kieth Kendrick:

A mum whose Down's Syndrome daughter was subjected to vile abuse by internet trolls has won her battle to have the photos removed from Facebook, thanks to Parentdish.co.uk.

We stepped in after Liz Crowter was alerted to online pages that mocked her 16-year-old daughter Heidi.

Images of the teenager were taken from a Down's support group site posted by her mum and then shared amongst fellow trollers who made 'jokes' about the girl's looks.

Some of the things they wrote about Heidi are too offensive to be repeated here, but several were of a sexual nature.

The mildest was: "I'd do her," according to Liz, from Coventry.

The mum-of-four said she was 'horrified' when she discovered the photos were in circulation and were being used to attack her child.

She told Parentdish.co.uk: "I felt so angry and upset. It was very distressing."

And she said that Heidi – who is internet-savvy – had also seen the abuse and was "very hurt" by the things that had been written about her. Heidi's two older brothers, Dan and Tim, and younger sister Suzy, were also distressed by what trollers were saying about their sister.

"But they know how the internet works and just feel sad that there was nothing they could do about it," said Liz.

Heidi's pictures were taken from a local support group website, which Mrs Crowter ran for about five years.

On the group's site, Liz had shared her experiences of being the mother of a child with Down's Syndrome and also went on trips and holidays with the group's members.

In October, she found her daughter's picture on a Facebook page which insulted people with Down's Syndrome and other learning difficulties.

She contacted Facebook and also West Midlands Police, who she said informed her it was not a matter for officers.

Over the weekend Mrs Crowter was told by friends that Heidi's picture had been put on a new page which insulted people with Down's Syndrome.

Liz said: "I felt violated and violated on Heidi's behalf. I'm disgusted that people can be so sick.

"It's not just Heidi, it's photos of other people's children as well."

The photos were originally hijacked to form the background of a "Meme", which was then posted on forums for other users to write a new "joke" over the top.

A Facebook spokesman told Parentdish.co.uk: "These images can and will be removed by Facebook; Liz Crowter would need to use this link to report unauthorised photos.

"Once the images are reported, they will be reviewed by our User Operations team – who are responsible for reviewing incoming reports and taking the necessary action.

"Across much of the wider web there are few controls on behaviour and the content that individuals can post. That isn't the case on Facebook. Facebook has a real identity policy, which makes people accountable for their actions and behaviour.

"When people on Facebook do find themselves in a situation where they feel uncomfortable, we encourage them to use our reporting tools so the content or activity can be investigated.

"We also have a set of rules that set out how people are expected to behave – the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. These rules are intended to create a balance between enabling free speech and preventing harassment and abuse."

Liz said of Heidi: "She is a very independent young lady who is studying for her GCSEs at a mainstream school and doing a hairdressing course.

"She's funny, stubborn and very kind. "We're all very upset about what has happened."