INTERNATIONAL WORLDDOWN SYNDROME CONGRESS
Stand–up and be counted
Who would you invite to take part in a debate at the World Down Syndrome Congress in Glasgow? How about comedians who have provoked outrage with gags about learning disabilities. No, it’s not a joke ...
BY KEVIN O’SULLIVAN C
omedians who have used ‘provocative’ language about people with learn- ing disabilities will be invited to a World Down
Syndrome congress due to be held in Scotland in 2018. Down’s Syndrome Scotland is con-
sidering ‘extending an invite’ to high profile entertainers such as Frankie Boyle, who has offended people with Down’s Syndrome in the past. Te charity, which has not yet
approached any comedians, wants to host an open forum fringe debate about how language is used about people with Down’s Syndrome. Glasgow will host the congress,
which takes place every three years, at the city’s SECC exhibition arena from July 24 to 27. Pandora Summerfield, the chief
executive of DSS, said: “We are hop- ing to have the event at some other venue in the city and get a comedian to chair it. “Because of time of year it is, the
end of July, with comedians ap- pearing in Scotland, they’re going to be performing at the Edinburgh Festival. Language is a real issue for people with Down’s Syndrome, and derogatory language, in particular, is very common.” She cited examples of comedians
including Frankie Boyle and Ricky Gervais who both caused outrage over jokes they have used mocking people with Down’s Syndrome. Pandora adds: “We would consider
even extending an invitation to co- medians such as Frankie Boyle. “Te question would be ‘is there
a line over which comedy shouldn’t step?’ in relation to people [with Down’s syndrome]. We know there are some high profile comedians like
42 | EVENTSBASE | WINTER 2015
“WE WOULD CONSIDER EVEN EXTENDING AN INVITATION TO COMEDIANS SUCH AS FRANKIE BOYLE”
Pandora Summerfield, chief executive of Down’s Syndrome Scotland
Stephen Fry who think there is no line, everything’s fair game. We’re of a different view. We would like to hear people have a debate about that. We hope that people without a connection to Down’s syndrome in Glasgow might pay to come to an event where comedians that they know and love are actually talking about something like that.” She added that whilst the use of
language isn’t ‘anything you can police’ but wanted to allow people to understand the impact it might have on someone with Down’s. Pandora along with other staff and
people with Down’s syndrome was part of a Down’s Syndrome Scotland delegation that went to Chennai, in India, in August to take part in
What:World Down Syndrome congress Where:SECC, Glasgow When: 24 - 27 July, 2018
the 2015 World Down Syndrome Congress. She said she wanted to see how the
congress was run and although there were cultural and climate differences which affected timings, the event was a success. It will also inform her views as
Stuart Campbell was among the Glasgow delegation who travelled to the World Down Syndrome Congress in Chennai in August
to how they monetise the Glasgow congress (it will be principally from delegate fees rather than exhibitor revenue), which received substantial support from Glasgow City Market- ing Bureau in securing the event. She said: “We were the first to use the People Make Glasgow brand; we have received a lot of support in kind.” Sam Ross and Stuart Campbell, two adults with Down’s Syndrome, also travelled to India for the congress. A third, Andrew McIntyre, was unable to travel but carried out an interview with Nicola Sturgeon, as part of a feature that was shown at the Chen- nai congress and will be broadcast by Down Syndrome Scotland in the run-up to the event. “It was a great interview,” adds
Pandora, who said it focused on the Scottish Government’s learning disabilities’ strategy Te Keys to Life. Also as part of the piece Andrew was able to ask the First Minister about her favourite place to go in Glasgow (a park on the southside of the city), as well as her favourite food, which was curry (the same as his, even though he said vegetarian haggis because he felt he had to ‘say something Scottish’). Te congress hopes to attract
between 1,000 and 1,200 delegates; in the run-up to the event a citywide awareness programme will run, which will seek to inform the public – including taxi drivers and hospital- ity staff – about Down’s Syndrome. Down’s Syndrome Scotland will also be tendering out to three weavers to create a bespoke tartan for the congress.
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