What is your reaction?

[shelleywelley]

Cbeebies have received complaints that a new presenter is "scaring" kids as she only has one arm, and that it is prompting too many awkward questions.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7906507.stm

How do you feel about this, should it be allowed, or should we only show our kids "perfect specimens"?

Personally, I am of the so what belief. If a person is capable of doing a job, and doing it well, then why the hell not regardless of what disability they may or may not have. What we might class as a disability may not necessarily be so to someone else.

As for awkward questions, thats just a load of rubbish. My aunt was married to a guy who had to have his leg amputated after a motorbike accident. After the initial, why has he only got 1 leg question the kids just accepted it and moved on, no big deal.

Similarly, the same with regards to my mum and her eyesight. When you tell an adult that she has had transplants, the look on their face says it all, or they try to shy the conversation away from it, whereas the kids are practically in her face wanting to have a look and asking questions.

No-one is perfect, why try and shield kids away from something just because it is that little bit different. I believe trying to hide people's disabilities is what causes the problems and the awkward questions.

[JudesNiceThings]

I think those parents want flogging!

Instilling prejudice straight from parent to child.

Disgusting!

(So what next- 'don't have that one, he's got ginger hair?')

[pearlygirl555]

I agree with your OP, and would just add that I hope they are also getting comments in support of the presenter.

[yorkiesauctions]

I think those parents want flogging!

Instilling prejudice straight from parent to child.

Disgusting!

(So what next- 'don't have that one, he's got ginger hair?')

I agree 100%. :mad:

When my daughters were toddlers they would ask questions if they saw someone with a disability, but that's how they learned that we're not all the same. They were never frightened or uneasy around folk who looked different to them, they just accepted them as a person like they should do.

[shelleywelley]

I couldn't believe it when I was reading it. I bet most of the kids of the complainers hadn't even noticed she was different. What boring lives they must lead :rolleyes: pity their poor kids.

Elaine, there are some nice comments that have been posted on the link I gave, whether or not these get to the powers that be, I don't know.

It would be a real travesty if this poor girl was to be taken off air because of the views of a few pompous idiots.

[pearlygirl555]

The people who are agitating against this woman must really hate the exposure the Para-Olympics get; personally, I'd like to see it get more exposure!

[yorkiesauctions]

In recent years here in the UK some tv shows have started to accept disables folk on their shows, Big Brother and Deal or No Deal being the two better known ones, and I think it's about bloody time too!

Let's hope the powers that be who control what we see on tv don't let the small minded minority dictate who are allowed to appear on our screens.

[ejean9]

how dare they !..they are the ones that should be removed..

[BabsnRay]

Where I was raised there were quite a few children that were 'different'. some were explained to me that they were 'thalidomyde babies' and when I asked what that meant Dad told me 'they're special because of the tables their mother took when she was carrying the baby'. Another child, who was the child of friends of my parents, and subsequently as a result he was my friend, but he was 'different'. To this day I still don't know what made him different, but he used to suffer from screaming fits - could have been something like ATD -

But - the point is, I was raised to accept ALL people for who they are, not whether they come with the standard 2 legs, 2 arms, blue eyes, blonde hair etc etc.

If the TV actually take note of the parents complaints, then I think its prejudice beginning at a very early age being taught to the children from adults, which is wrong. If the young lady is capable of doing her job with her disabily and has already passed her interview, then she has every right to the position she now holds. Best of british to her.

[Fossy]

Both my son and I have a condition known as Ectrodactyly. Neither of us have ever had problems with young children, in fact the opposite, they are fascinated by it and frequently ask funny questions (funny to us, but embarrasing to their parents who try to shut them up) .

It is usually the older people that are the problem and that is usually caused by ignorance and embarrasment. I have never found people to be prejudiced against me because of it.

I say good luck to Cerrie Burnell and hope it encourages more disabled people to become presenters. Looking at her picture she only has the lower part of her right arm missing, so it is obvious to me that the people complaining have a lot more than that missing even if it does not show physically.

[poppa501]

If the kids are "scared" its because the parents have instilled this in them. The parents are bloomin idiots! Did you read the comments under the news item? Didn't see a single negative one. Leave the woman alone and let her do her job! Idiots I say!
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/poppa501/eBid%20gifs/mad.gif

[PATRIOT73]

In recent years here in the UK some tv shows have started to accept disables folk on their shows, Big Brother and Deal or No Deal being the two better known ones, and I think it's about bloody time too!

Let's hope the powers that be who control what we see on tv don't let the small minded minority dictate who are allowed to appear on our screens.
i recall a women x-factor sum years ago.............who was in a wchair
had a crakin voicee too.............think she got to boot camp

[Fossy]

i recall a women x-factor sum years ago.............who was in a wchair
had a crakin voicee too.............think she got to boot camp

I remember her as well, she was good................. mind you she did get slated by a lot of people because of it. Jealous no doubt.

http://www.alliedmobility.com/uploads/images/Kerry_McGregor2.jpg

[victorfrank]

I say good luck to Cerrie Burnell and hope it encourages more disabled people to become presenters. Looking at her picture she only has the lower part of her right arm missing, so it is obvious to me that the people complaining have a lot more than that missing even if it does not show physically.

Totally agree, Fossy.

I would have hoped that we had come further, as a country, than the prejudice shown by what is hopefully a very small minority of parents.

[Vonz]

If the kids are "scared" its because the parents have instilled this in them. The parents are bloomin idiots! Did you read the comments under the news item? Didn't see a single negative one. Leave the woman alone and let her do her job! Idiots I say!
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/poppa501/eBid%20gifs/mad.gif





Well Said!

It's the parents that need sacking from their jobs....as parents :mad:

Schools, right from nursery, are monitored by Ofsted for their performance on "diversity". The catchphrase, "it's good to be different"......is ingrained throughout the education system.

Seems to me that a few adults could do with going back to school :eek:

Yvonne x

[PATRIOT73]

I remember her as well, she was good................. mind you she did get slated by a lot of people because of it. Jealous no doubt.

http://www.alliedmobility.com/uploads/images/Kerry_McGregor2.jpg
n was alot beta than a few o the others

[booksforsale]

I remember her as well, she was good................. mind you she did get slated by a lot of people because of it. Jealous no doubt.

http://www.alliedmobility.com/uploads/images/Kerry_McGregor2.jpg

Kerry McGregor

She also had a part in three episodes of the funniest thing I have ever seen - The Book Group - Channel 4 circa 2002

I can't find a youtube link with her in it, but here is a link to a scene from The Book Group. It has the F and C Words, and drug scenes, so if you are easily offended don't look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPXbSObNs4o



.