from Peterborough Telegraph by Jim Baker:
Terry Harris is father to Lucy who has Down’s Syndrome. He believes fervently that people with Down’s Syndrome enrich and enhance our society and our lives.
Terry said: “Lucy having Down’s Syndrome never really fazed us. We often think we are extremely lucky as she does not have any of the major problems often associated with Down’s Syndrome.
“That said, she does have her problems and they are sometimes difficult and upsetting. But on the whole Lucy has grown into a lovable bundle that we think completes our family. There’s no doubting Lucy has obstacles ahead but we as a family are supportive of each other.
“The BIG picture is our way of sharing our experiences and letting every family, around the world touched by Down’s syndrome, share theirs.”
The DS The BIG Picture exhibition aims to help everyone from new parents, to people who just want a better understanding of the condition, an understanding built on fact and not misconceptions. Another key component of the campaign is to educate society on the whole and correct dated and negative stereotypes of people with DS.
In support of the exhibition Terry is offering free family photo-sessions, open to people/children with Down’s Syndrome and their families. The sessions are on a first come first serve basis offering time slots of around 35 minutes at Studio One, Ailsworth.
The photographs will be used in The Big Picture exhibition and attendees will also receive a free CD of the pictures taken or can have them printed by the studio at a discounted price.
They will also receive a 25 per cent discount on any future family portrait sessions at the studio.
The photo shoots will take place throughout June/July this weekend. Siblings are welcome but model release forms will need to be signed for the images to be in the BIG Picture exhibition.
The exhibition will coincide with World Down’s Syndrome Awareness Day 2013 (March 21) and will run from March 16, 2013 to May 25, 2013 in Peterborough, at a city centre venue (to be confirmed).
Peterborough United Chairman Darragh Macanthony has also donated £2,000 to the exhibition and offered to support it in any way he can.
DS The Big Picture has also secured the support of the largest charity involved with Down’s syndrome, The Down’s Syndrome Association.
They currently have over 7,000 members across 140 plus affiliates in the UK alone. They also have an exceptionally large presence around the world due to their World Down’s Syndrome International organisation.
A truly unique feature of the campaign is the larger images which aren’t just one picture, but made up from as many as 10,000 individual images which in turn will have a huge amount of information embedded in them from simple comments about Down’s syndrome to links for further reading and information.
If you would be interested in taking part in the exhibition contact Terry as soon as possible on 07747 606996, or at terry@dsthebigpicture.com.
