'Scott gives us so much pride'

Proud dad Stuart Needham son Scott Needham

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A PROUD father spoke about the opportunities his son has given him following a documentary that questioned the ethicalness of a more accurate Down's Syndrome screening for expectant mothers.

Stuart Needham, of Oldham, highlighted the experiences his son Scott, who has Down's Syndrome, has given him after the emotionally-charged BBC documentary, which questioned whether a new and more accurate screening process would see expecting parents terminate their child after a positive result.

Rather than judge, as he believes in a woman's right to choose, he felt it was important to break a negative stigma surrounding Down's Syndrome and highlight the positive impact his son has had on his life.

As an avid dart player Scott travels far and wide with his team, Target Stockport Darts Academy, competing in tournaments in Germany and most recently Italy and has also played Phil 'The Power' Taylor.

He has met Frank Lampard and John Terry and recently watched from the stands as Man Utd dispatched Leicester City 4-1 at Old Trafford.

As well as darts Scott enjoys horse riding and plays football, but most importantly, Stuart said he enriches the lives of those around him who feel proud to have met him, something personified by the fondness his darts team view him with.

Stuart said: "His captain said: 'He is so valuable. We don't look at him as anything different then the other lads.'

"All the team say how good it is to have Scott as part of the team and they are proud because it shows they have this empathy and this inclusion."

Stuart believes that when Scott was born in 1988, the negative use of the word suffer to describe someone with a disability inaccurately presented them as a victim and contributed to the stigma of not living a happy life.

But it couldn't be further from the truth and in 1992 Scott was welcomed into mainstream education. Stuart said: "It was as a win win for everyone."

Stuart suggested that the dependence of an individual on an expecting parent for the rest of their life may be off-putting but there is an opportunity to enhance your life that perhaps people don't realise.

He said: "Because that person is going to be dependent on you for years maybe that frightens them?

"But there is an opportunity of also enriching your lives, it is hard work but there is so much potential. I feel a better person."