News & Events
[09 Jun 2009]
Rosanna Preston (CLAPA Chief Executive) attended the Cheltenham Science fair on Saturday 6th June to hear Carol Vorderman (CLAPA patron) and her brother Anton, who was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, talk about the impact of facial difference. Also on the panel were Henrietta Spalding from Changing Faces and Felicity Mehendele, Cleft surgeon in Edinburgh.
During the discussion Rosanna asked the panel how the media could help to change attitude to facial difference. Carol spoke eloquently on the media's obsession with perfect looks and the way facial difference is often portrayed as the topic of "shock documentaries". She said that television, in particular, could make a difference to the public's perception of facial disfigurement. She also said "There are the serious documentaries which are very good and there are programmes which treat serious illnesses as entertainment, as freaky people." "If there could be a character in say, Coronation Street, which is watched by millions and they had a visable difference, but it was no big deal, then it would make such a difference."
This story has been picked up by the media and there have been several items about it, including an interview with Mary Newbold (CLAPA Cambridge Branch) on BBC Three Counties Radio and an interview with Rosanna Preston in the Western Mail.
More News
- CLAPA’s sevices for Adults born with cleft lip and/or palate
- The School Years - FACT SHEETS
- NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme
- Summer Camp 2010, Volunteer Vacancies!
- CLAPA Young Leaders Programme for 16 - 20 year olds!
- Summer Camp 2010! Application forms available to download now
- Participate in cleft care research projects
- Fire Sale
- Leave us a gift in your Will
- Crowborough Beacon Golf Club Raise £4,807
5 comments
If you do see anyone on TV with obvious facial marks they rarely get to play someone ordinary. They are either the bad guy or playing someone with learning difficulties such as Emmerdale’s James Hooten. The only exception I can think of was the American actor Stacy Keach. However, I then wonder if I only notice the people in negative roles and that I am influenced my by own negative views.
I read with interest the article in the Daily Mail written by Carol Vordeman and her brother regarding his cleft lip and how he felt about the way he looked. The photographs in the paper may have been misleading but I thought he was a lovely looking little boy. However, if anyone had said that to me as a child I would have just thought they were being patronising because of the way I thought I looked.
Bullies will always find some way of getting to anyone with or without a physical difference. I think my worst enemy was/is myself. I just wish building self confidence was realised then as being just as important as plastic surgery.
Also, I have heard various women recently express the same conclusion that I had made - that when they look back on old photos they find they were better looking than they thought they were at the time.
Very inspiring story in the Daily Mail. well done Carole for raising again the awareness of the cleft lip and palate. The story was very moving and reading it brought tears in my eyes. It just shows how family unity, love, protection and strong bond between each other, can overcome any obstacle and we can all achieve our dreams, no matter what. It also brought back memories when my son was born and a fantastic care given my NHS professionals. For me they are the real heroes who have given an opportunity for my son to have a normal and a happy childhood. I will always appreciate that and will try to help other parents in similar situation.
(mum whose son, 8 yearas old was born with a cleft lip and palate).
why has the scheme caused such controversy? Could personal data be used for commercial purposes as happened in Iceland? Join Frances Rawle of the Medical Research Council and Mark Littlewood, Director of campaigns for Human Rights organisation Liberty, to discuss the issues.
Fire Science
What a well written great piece of information. I remember that I was looking for something like this from a couple of months. I am glad that I found my way here by coincidence!free adult webcams
Sorry guys, what is CLAPA? I’ve searched in acronymserach, but it gave no results