Chatty Natty on ITV Lorraine Show: The Face of Representation

Did you ever have a moment in your life that was so exciting, so surreal that you weren't sure if you dreamt it up? 

The kind of moment where you are plucked from your ordinary life and sucked into a parallel universe for the briefest of whiles, before being plopped back safe and sound, albeit exhausted and clutching a few souvenirs?

Well, if it weren't for two pink Lorraine clocks in the girls' bedrooms, I would indeed be wondering if I had dreamt up our trip to London to feature live on the ITV Lorraine Show.

Natty, model with Down's Syndrome in new catalogue

Natty features in the Frugi Organic Clothing catalogue for the second season, SS13. 

I do believe they are the first company to use a model with a disability more than once in their campaigns. So hats off to them.

Here are a few of the best pictures from the photoshoot, which I think really manages to capture her personality and essence this time around.

I hope you like them. Natty had fun as you can see but of course she is a true ambassador, gently changing perceptions of that extra little chromosome from within hearts everywhere she goes.

To see more candid pictures and find out what happens at a photoshoot, read BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE FRUGI PHOTOSHOOT here.

To read about the other children breaking down the barriers to make advertising more inclusive, read PIONEERS WITH DOWNS SYNDROME here.

To dee more pictures and read about Natty's other jobs visit our NATTY G: MODEL WITH DOWN'S SYNDROME PAGE.

The face of Disability Represented in Marketing Catalogues

The beautiful face of disability in our catalogues...

The moment has arrived, the first catalogue featuring Natty is published online and will hit doormats all over the UK next week.

For us, this is hugely significant. For the first time in history, companies are saying yes to featuring children with Down's Syndrome in their marketing material. Jojo Maman Bebe too are using a little boy called Seb as well as Natty.

Of course it is only the thin end of the wedge, we want to see children using wheelchairs in instore poster campaigns, children with other disabilities in TV adverts. We don't want any company afraid to feature our children for fear of loss of sales. We have a very long way to go, but I am proud that we are here at the start, that we are making a difference. Thank you to all the families who have sent messages of support and encouragement, as well as beautiful photos of your own children. I helps to know you are all behind us.

I hope many new parents see these happy images of two sisters simply enjoying dressing up in nice clothes and having fun together, and their fears of Down's Syndrome will be dispelled. I pray other children with disabilities will come forward to model, their confidence boosted by seeing images of positive role models in the media.

For me though, the outtakes show even more of Natty's character, that she is funny, independent and witty, not simply docile, loving and musical. So here they are...

Frugi: The Outtakes!

BBC Radio Cornwall Interview

Yesterday lovely Ross from BBC radio Cornwall came to the house to interview Natty and I about her modelling.

This is the first radio interview which includes Natty herself and I hope it is the start of many more to come.

I was a little nervous, as her favourite subject at the moment is farts, but instead we got a little rendition of If You're Happy and You Know It. Phew. 

Ross was a lovely interviewer and described himself as being 'fortunate to have a cousin who has Down's Syndrome'.  Yes, fortunate we are.

Click here and move cursor to exactly 1hour and 37 minutes in to listen to Natty talk about confectionary, love, being happy and modelling.

Gorgeous Models - One with Downs Syndrome

My head is spinning with fabulous blog posts that I can't quite find the time to sit down and craft at the moment: 

Breastfeeding a baby with Down's Syndrome part 2

Tips to alleviate constipation

An observation on a mother and son with Down's I met by chance in town 

The consultant that diagnosed Natty's condition at birth revisited and re-evaluated...  

They'll all have to wait. School hols and lots of lovely house guests are taking precedent, and that's how it should be. 

We blog about life, not live through our blogs, after all.

Beauty Comes in Many Forms

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful, 

for beauty is God's handwriting -- 

a wayside sacrament.
Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every flower, 

and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

But in the meantime I'd like to share a proud little moment with you all. Seemingly frivolous perhaps, but huge for the future of Down's Syndrome, the way our children are perceived.

Today, Frugi launched their Autumn Winter '12 collection. Natty and her sister Mia are there, amongst the other beautiful models. Just 2 happy little girls having fun with others, and enjoying dressing up in pretty clothes...

Getting Natty's face into catalogues was always one branch of my idea for gently changing perceptions of Down's Syndrome, alonside the blog, media appearances and article writing. 

In one small photo, a simple shot of a girl wearing pretty clothes, lies a hugely important message. 

The message conveyed is that children with Down's Syndorme are beautiful, love gorgeous clothes, deserve to be well dressed. That they are just as important as any other child, they are capable of the same activities, enjoy life to the full, can work as clothing models, are loved by their siblings and friends. They too can woo a camera person, make a marketing team giggle and are role models for other children who see themselves represented in mainstream media for the first time.

I hope Natty has gained an immeasurable amount of confidence from being accepted as a model too. She beams from ear to ear whenever she sees her face in print.

Put simply, I hope that other beautiful small people with an extra chromosome simply look at Natty in those pages and see a girl who looks a bit like them but who doesn't really stand out at all. She is just one of the gang. She looks natural and at home amongst the others.

And that has been our family motto since the day Natty was born... she is just one of the gang.

Silent Sundays

Tooth and tears - Sunday 30th September

Natty: model, sister, daughter, friend - Sunday 23rd September

Silent Sunday - Home Ed: 'a' and 's' the kinesthetic way!

Sunday 9th September 2012

Silent Sunday - Mia's Love 2nd September 2012

Silent Sunday Natty's modelling debut with Frugi 26th August 2012

Silent Sunday Shhh, don't tell mum 19th August 2012

Silent Sunday Family volleyball 12th August 2012

Silent Sunday 29th July - Hush Little Cousin x

Silent Sunday 22nd July '12 - Sisters in the Sun

Silent Sunday 15th July '12 - Junk Robot.

Silent Sunday 8th July '12 - Cycling!

Natty, 5 - Model with Down's Syndrome

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful, 

for beauty is God's handwriting -- 

a wayside sacrament.
Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every flower, 

and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Natty models for  Frugi

When I began writing Downs Side Up some 6 months ago, my motivation was partly to show the world that children with Down's Syndrome are utterly beautiful, certainly not to be feared and deserve a place in the heart of our communities, where they can live in a fully integrated way and give so much back to those around them.  I wanted to uplift and inspire new parents, show them the possibilities, give them courage.

I began thinking of a many-pronged approach to reach this aim and the blog became the hub or core from which all other threads emerged.  Then came Downs Side Up on Facebook, more recently we've been getting our voice heard on Twitter @downssideup and laterly on Pinterest.  It has been amazing to meet so many like-minded, inspirational parents here, but my thoughts soon turned to how I could preach to those who were not already converted.

I started thinking that our childrens' beautiful faces should be visible in everyone's lives, popping up in catalogues, magazines, on TV, ads even, another facet of globally accepted beauty.  
I started writing to companies and model agencies, 2 or 3 a night every night, asking for their support.  Several were very supportive but politely said Natty was not 'chocolate box perfect' enough.  Others ignored my emails completely.  But a special few replied immediately with an open-armed 'yes'.  Frugi organic kids clothing was the first, the other was Scott Dunn Travel and then came Jojo Maman Bebe, who coincidentally use several models with Down's Syndrome and are proud to be inclusive employers also.

Modelling wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but little show-off Natty is a natural in front of the camera.  At our first Frugi shoot she began posing before we had even changed her out of her school uniform!  Highlights of the afternoon were a vigorous game of kiss-chase with a male 3yr old model, (Natty was to be heard called 'come here and kiss me now!'), stroking the photographer's stubbly beard (No, that wasn't me. Honestly.), and dancing with a cardboard owl (what a hoot!).  

After this, national paper The Sun, online publications such as The Mail Online, our local radio station, Bella Magazine and even ITV show Daybreak wanted to share the story of a little girl with Down's Syndrome taking the modelling world by storm...well, turning it on its head anyway.  With each published and broadcast story, Natty clearly shouted from the rooftops that Down's Syndrome is to be embraced, loved and accepted.

Natty's agent Alison Smith-Squire 
writes about how the 
Downs Side Up word is spreading

Of course, all parents of children like Natty know why they are so beautiful.  It isn't simply the packaging on the outside that makes them so, although their delicate features apparently echo those of the perfect dainty doll.  No, it is something that radiates from within their souls, their innocent hearts, that 'live for the moment' Joie de Vivre, that being utterly absorbed by every activity they take part in, giving everyone they choose to interact with their undivided attention and that born desire to be the centre of attention.  Or is that just Natty...?

Also read The Photo Gallery of Hope
The Face of Disability in Marketing
Gorgeous Models: One with Down's Syndrome

The message is breaking through....

It is time to take a breath and assess how far Down's Side Up has come, celebrate the great things achieved and focus on the end goal.  I have been marching forward on a crusade to change the way the world perceives Down's Syndrome for just under two months now.  Two short months...

If you count one just one friend without a child with Down's Syndrome telling me she has now 'got it', then I have succeeded.

If you count just one new Mum with a baby with Down's Syndrome feeling uplifted, inspired and 'kept going', then all the late nights writing and networking have been worth it.

If you count one friend writing and telling me that she will not repeat the testing she had in her first pregnancy in any future pregnancies, then I have removed the fear from people's minds.

If one lady whose baby with Down's Syndrome was stillborn can bring herself to read my musings, I am deeply humbled.

If you consider that a link to my blog is going to be included in a book used in GP update training, than we have succeeded in gaining the attention of the medical profession.

If you count one Mum telling me how the midwife told her to 'go home and think about whether she wanted to keep her baby', just two short years ago, I know we have a long way still to go.

If you count just one of Natty's classmates Mums telling me that she watched the video of Natty reading and thinks she reads better than her child,  I have gained respect and belief of others in our children.

If you count the face of a child with Down's Syndrome being used to model clothes and market luxury holidays, then I have demystified that extra chromosome. 

If you count appearing in a national Newspaper, read by 5 million Britons daily, then I have spread the word that Down's Syndrome is beautiful.

If my postman squeezes me in a bear hug and tells me he is proud of me, I know we are loved as a family. 

If you count a stranger telling me of a friend who gave her baby up for adoption, whilst crying tears of gratitude for the work I am doing, then perhaps I can hope to prevent other women finding themselves in such a desperate place.

Down's Syndrome is beautiful.  Down's Syndrome is not to be feared.   Down's Syndrome is to be embraced and included.  Please help me spread my word dear friends xxx

Photo Gallery of Hope

I got off to a bit of shaky start...

When Natty was born we experienced the darkest, most  terrifying times of uncertainty.  We had not signed up for this!  We knew next to nothing about Down's Syndrome.  What would she become?  Were our lives to change forever?

I recall thinking that we would never again be able to go for a walk on a beach as a family...holidays and travel would be impossible...her sister would be affected by her limitations....everyone would stare at us everywhere we went and say cruel things...our daughter would not be beautiful...

But a kind, knowing neo-natal nurse, who had a daughter with Down's Syndrome, leant us a small family photo album.  
We pored over page after page of simple snapshots; kids hugging on a sofa watching TV, kids opening presents and blowing out birthday cake candles, kids in the bath, kids playing instruments... and kids making sandcastles on the beach!

A perfect bridesmaid (twice so far in fact).

This was a turning point for all of us.  Those photos gave us more hope than I can describe, at a time when we could find very little that was personal and encouraging online.  We determined there and then to expose Natty to every opportunity and experience that her sister had had and was going to have in the future.  5 years on and we are reaping the rewards as we see them both florish.  

So here are a few photos from that journey so far, a journey that has had its many ups and downs along the way.  We hope, via these images, to spread encouragement and positive thinking for other parents.  It's hard work, it takes love and patience, but the sky really is the limit.

I love exploring smells...

...and texture.

I am a little comedian

I love my sister

I sometimes stray...so watch out!

I party hard...zzzz

Sometimes Mummy has to force me to enjoy new experiences.  I'm always glad she does.  I moaned for 20 minutes before I let the dolphin kiss me  :)

I make new friends wherever I go
Photograph by Traci Giles Photography

Pretty aren't I?
Photograph by Traci Giles

I won several rosettes, including this SPECIAL, in the gymkhana, riding Jessie x

Check out my dance moves!

I worked hard at kindergarten

I love doing art at home

The moment I graduated from kindergarten...PRIDE is written all over everyone's faces, tears abound!
I love Daddy too!

I took my first minutes of (mainstream) school very seriously, and got stuck straight in

I loving trying new experiences...I am FEARLESS!

and I am very proud of myself :)

To conclude, yes, our lives have changed forever.  We have learnt to see life through the eyes of one who views and experiences it differently.  We now live life on the 'other side'.  Believe me, it's a lot better.

Oh, and yes...we go to the beach often. 
We travel far and wide, making friends wherever we go.  
Natty is a great ice breaker, and her sister is the wisest most sensitive 7 year old I have ever met.  

And not one single person has ever said anything cruel about her...lingering looks and insensitive questions perhaps, but never anything intentionally cruel.  An ambassador she is... and VERY BEAUTIFUL :)


And special thanks to photographer Traci Giles, more used to taking pictures of Hollywood stars, who took such beautiful shots of Natty on holiday after she stole her heart xxx