Seeing the divine in children born disabled ignores their very real humanity

People have interpreted anomalies in babies as messages from God for centuries, and modern scientists are attempting to link genetic differences to our chemical-laced lifestyles. These overlook one simple fact: the human life before them

When my brother was born, I was told he was a sign from God. Church ladies hovered around him, cooing over his bright, blue almond-shaped eyes and declaring him to be an angel, sent from heaven. Or even a little bit of God here on Earth.

My brother was born with Down’s syndrome and for most of his life, people have been making it a point to talk about how he is a divine gift – as if his extra chromosome somehow gives him a direct line to heaven.

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from Children | The Guardian http://ift.tt/1EzWu6q