Disability rights advocate Sophie Morgan has raised concerns about Cat Deeley’s choice of words in discussing Jesy Nelson’s twins. Jesy, a former member of the girl group Little Mix, recently disclosed that her twin daughters have been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1.
On a recent episode of This Morning, Cat suggested that “disabled children can lead normal lives” if newborn screening for SMA were implemented, as Jesy is advocating for. In response, Sophie, who became paralyzed after a car accident, shared a post from disabled writer Frances Ryan, emphasizing that the phrase “could have lived normal lives” is not appropriate.
Frances Ryan’s post highlighted that disabled children can pursue careers and relationships but may encounter obstacles and physical challenges. The importance of having disabled voices in media discussions was underscored to provide nuanced perspectives.
Jesy appeared on This Morning to discuss her daughters’ diagnosis and advocated for mandatory SMA testing at birth in the UK, a practice already adopted in over 40 other countries. Cat mentioned the availability of the test in various countries, including the United States since 2023, and remarked on the minimal cost of 36p for the test.
Parents of children affected by SMA praised Jesy’s openness about the condition. One parent, Katie Hughes, expressed shock at the low cost of the test and lamented how it could have altered her son’s life trajectory significantly.
SMA is a condition characterized by progressive muscle weakness and can lead to severe physical limitations. Jesy acknowledged on This Morning that her daughters may never walk or support their own heads due to the effects of SMA.
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