#OurMasha Campaign Fights Back Against Down's Syndrome Discrimination
Every now and then a story surfaces that is beyond abhorrent. A story so horrible, so vile, that it prompts utter disbelief. That is exactly the case here, as angry parents at a Russian school have demanded that pictures of Masha, a 7-year-old girl suffering from Down's Syndrome, be removed from the school yearbook. Their reasoning? They don't want the unfortunate girl's image appearing alongside their own children. If that isn't enough to make you feel sick to your stomach, I don't know what is.
Masha has been attending the school in Moscow due to an inability to secure a placement at a special needs facility. Her mother, herself a primary school teacher at the school, had requested that the school permit Masha to attend classes until such a time as a place became available so that she could keep a close eye on her, so Masha spent her days with the 4th grade pupils without any issue. Then the yearbook arrived.
The vast majority of the yearbook didn't even feature Masha. In fact, there was only one image, on one page, of her in the entire book. Unfortunately, for some parents, that was enough to constitute a torrent of complaints to the headmaster. As reported by RT, some commenters argued the placement of her picture (top & center) as it apparently implied that she was the most important student, while others openly admitted that they would hide the evidence if such a child was to feature in their own yearbook, lest people think that they had attended a correction class.
Luckily, the story was picked up by Russian supermodel and founder of the Naked Hearts Foundation, Natalia Vodianova, whose own sister suffers from autism. Vodianova has been an ever present activist in support of those with special needs since opening her foundation in 2004, so it comes as no surprise that she was outraged by this story. In response to the downright horrible event, she started the hashtag #OurMasha, encouraging the families of those with special needs to share their story, increase awareness and spread a positive message about those unfortunate enough to struggle with such issues. The hashtag soon filled up with support for Masha and images from parents of special needs children, each showing their love for their kids regardless of any condition they may suffer from. If you are feeling downhearted by how this story began, a quick scroll through the #OurMasha feed should be enough to restore your faith in humanity.
Sam Bonson
 |
| The now infamous yearbook - RT |
 |
| Natalia Vodianova |
Luckily, the story was picked up by Russian supermodel and founder of the Naked Hearts Foundation, Natalia Vodianova, whose own sister suffers from autism. Vodianova has been an ever present activist in support of those with special needs since opening her foundation in 2004, so it comes as no surprise that she was outraged by this story. In response to the downright horrible event, she started the hashtag #OurMasha, encouraging the families of those with special needs to share their story, increase awareness and spread a positive message about those unfortunate enough to struggle with such issues. The hashtag soon filled up with support for Masha and images from parents of special needs children, each showing their love for their kids regardless of any condition they may suffer from. If you are feeling downhearted by how this story began, a quick scroll through the #OurMasha feed should be enough to restore your faith in humanity.
Shameful Russian parents deeming a person as worthless #НашаМаша #ourmasha pic.twitter.com/yO7rgVBimH
— Andrea Abbott (@andreaabbott1) October 27, 2015
— Kemal (@Kemal_P) October 26, 2015
Sam Bonson
Sam
is an aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers.
Currently working as Editor of Social Songbird, he hopes to one day drop that
'aspiring' prefix. Follow him @SamAtSMF
Contact
us on Twitter,
on Facebook, or
leave your comments below. To find out about social media training or
management why not take a look at our website for more info: TheSMFGroup.com
#OurMasha Campaign Fights Back Against Down's Syndrome Discrimination
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Rating:
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Rating:
Unknown
Keeping you up to date on social media, digital marketing, apps, news & reviews. Social media, and digital marketing as a whole, are rapidly and constantly changing, adapting to new developments at an ever increasing rate. Just keeping up to date can be a nightmare. Our team of writers know their field, and keep an ear to the ground. We aim to keep you informed of all recent developments in the online world, and teach you a little something along the way. So whether you just want to stay connected, or gain some knowledge for yourself, the Social Songbird will keep on singing! More articles are posted every day so keep checking back! Join the discussion on Twitter - #SocialSongbird Or contact us directly - @SocialSongbird_
Entrepreneur, international speaker on Social Media Marketing. First one in the UK to write and speak in conferences about Twitter as a marketing tool. Consultant to Corporate Companies, Government Organizations, Marketing Managers and Business Owners.
Aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. He hopes to one day drop that 'aspiring' prefix. He started as a writer and soon after he was made Executive Editor and Manager of the team at Social Songbird. A position he held for 5 years.
Adrienne is a passionate writer with experience in editing, content creation, and social media marketing. She’s a lover of animals, helping others improve their writing, and 2000s pop culture.
Musician, audio technician, professional tutor and a Cambridge university English student. Interested in writing, politics and obsessed with reading.
Recently graduated with a BA in English Literature from the University of Exeter, and he is about to study an MA in Journalism at the University of Sheffield. He is an aspiring journalist and novelist; in his free time he enjoys playing chess, listening to music and taking long walks through nature.
Lucy is an undergraduate BSc Politics and International Relations student at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Anna Coopey is a 4th year UG student in Classics at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She is a keen writer and researcher on a number of topics, varying from Modern Greek literature to revolutionary theory.
Ellie is a recent BA English Literature graduate and aspiring publisher with a passion for writing. Her favourite pastimes include reading and shopping.