Celebrate ability

structure and history engender a strong sense of community. The schools play a massive role in that regard, at all levels – nursery, primary and secondary. That community identity impacts very directly on school discipline, achievement, sport and other extracurricular activity.

The re-zoning threatens that essential link. The Council does not have a strong reputation for well-thoughtthrough planning and delivery. Reconsidering these proposals might be a good start,

RICHARD BLACKBURN Johnsburn Haugh, Balerno can arise from such a proposal. It is commonplace here in the Highlands to see bilingual street and road signs. More often than not these show the Gaelic version above the English, notwithstanding that only a very small percentage of people in Scotland speak or understand Gaelic. Those who do speak Gaelic will in all probability also speak English.

Bilingual road signs can be confusing. On a recent journey to the West Highlands I came across quite a number of road signs with three or four place names which were shown one under the other, first in Gaelic and then English. To decipher this type of signage quickly is not always easy while driving, and it must be even more confusing for foreign tourists.

I am all for preserving Scotland’s heritage but this idea in Edinburgh does not make any sense at all. Re: Uuganaa Ramsay’s Friends of The Scotsman article, “Equality and fairness? People with disability are being judged before they are even born” (22 November). As someone who values equality and prioritises human rights, I agree that it’s important to promote diversity and equality, which is difficult with existing stereotypes. While it is disturbing to hear that nine out of ten babies with Down’s syndrome are aborted, the article does not recognise the overall importance of the prenatal screenings for the disorder.

According to the book The Disability Rights Movement: From Charity to Confrontation, doctors and professionals who offer prenatal screenings aren’t aware that the lives of those with disabilities aren’t all about the disabilities they have. Instead of focusing on those who do choose to abort their babies, I wonder if it’s more effective to mention those who choose to raise their children despite their disabilities. It would allow readers and professionals to understand why disabilities should not matter and make things equal and fair in the society.

CHRISTINE HAN Psychology and Global Studies

University of Illinois at Urbana-champaign, USA