Hope for Russia's Down Syndrome Children

In Russia most children suffering from Down Syndrome are given up for adoption and often end up in psychiatric hospitals. One woman is trying to change perceptions in a country where having a child with any sort of handicap is often perceived as shameful.

Published

about 1 month ago

Categories

Health, World

Topics

Handicaps/Disabilities, Europe

People

Evelina Bledans

Places

Russia, Moscow

Transcript

SCRIPT: Sioma can't yet talk but is already well known in Moscow. Children like him who have Down's syndrome are frequently abandoned in Russia. But Sioma's mother - the well known actress Evelina Bledans - kept him and has published a blog in his name. She hopes by doing so she can change attitudes in Russian society. SOUNDBITE 1 - Evelina Bledans, Actress (15 sec) "Lots of women have written to me only after I went public saying they have found strength to walk aroud with their Down's Syndrome children in broad daylight and not at night as they used to." Every year nearly 2500 children are born with Down’s syndrome in Russia. Most are given away. Those that aren't find it hard to escape entrenched social attitudes. In the USSR handicapped children were hidden away. This legacy means children who are different are too often seen as something to be ashamed of. SOUNDBITE 2 - Elena, mother of Down's Syndrome child (13 sec) "A doctor said to me in the maternity ward "Give him up, what good does it do to keep a child like that, they are horrible." I said to him that would be a betrayal and he left me alone." In Moscow 50% of children with Down Syndorme are given up against 85% in the provinces. In the capital there are places like this one that offer proper care and support - the alternative is sometimes a place in a psychiatric hospital from where re-integration into society are almost impossible. SOUNDBITE 3 - Anna Portugalova, Director of Downside Up charity (22 sec) "We have a woman with Down's Syndrome who works here at the foundation. She was the first with the condition to get a real job in Russia, the situation speaks for itself and I hope there will be more cases like hers." Foundations like Anna's are at the forefront of helping these children lead as normal a life as possible and at the same time trying to change attitudes towards Down's Syndrome in Russia. SHOTLIST: MOSCOW, RUSSIA, MARCH 2013 (Source: AFPTV) - VAR Sioma and his mother Evelina Bledans SOUNDBITE 1 - VAR Down's Syndrome kids playing with their parents at Downside up Fondation SOUNDBITE 2 MOSCOW, RUSSIA, Winter, 2011 (Source: AFPTV) - GVs Moscow - VAR children - VAR Red square MOSCOW, RUSSIA, MARCH 2013 (Source: AFPTV) - Anna Portougalova SOUNDBITE 3 - Down's Syndrome child with parent - VAR Down's Syndrome kids with their parents at Downside up Fondation