A CHESHIRE charity has hailed a Bill to improve the lives of people with Down syndrome as it cleared its final hurdle in Parliament.
The ground-breaking Down Syndrome Bill successfully passed through its final stage on Friday, April 1, and will now receive Royal Assent and become law.
When the Queen signs the Bill making it an Act, it will become a world's first and give legal rights to individuals with Down Syndrome.
Lawrence Caygill, CEO of Down Syndrome Cheshire said: “The approval of the ground-breaking Down Syndrome Bill is a significant moment for those who have Down syndrome and their families.
"Everyone has a right to fair and equal opportunities so that they can live the life they choose.
"It is fantastic that the establishment of a Down Syndrome Act will now hold services and employers to account to ensure they are operating in an inclusive manner.
"Here at Down Syndrome Cheshire, we look forward to working closely with the government and the local authority to understand what the act will mean in practice and how charities like ours can help with the delivery of support services across education, healthcare, employment and social care.”
The Bill had been introduced to Parliament by Dr Liam Fox, MP for North Somerset.
Sue Tranter, whose 22-year-old son Joe has Down syndrome, said she was 'thrilled' it had been passed into law.
"Children and adults with Down syndrome are individuals who each have their own passions, dreams and skill sets," she said.
"It is important that young people are given opportunities within education and employment.
"With the right training, and the right level of initial supervision, many adults with Down syndrome are quite capable and are able to work independently on tasks they are assigned.
"Our hope is the Act will open up further opportunities for Joe to grow his vocational skills and ultimately find a paid employment position."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here