Prince William and Kate Middleton Accept a Gift That Makes a Huge Difference for Special Needs People

zaterdag 14 september 2013

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by Adriana Velez Yesterday at 6:30 PM

Of all the gifts Prince William and Kate received for their new son, George, this has to be the sweetest. Tazia Fawley, a 43-year-old woman with Down syndrome, painted a depiction of the Bristol Balloon Festival. It's a brightly-hued, joy-filled painting perfect for a child's room. And Fawley spent six months creating it. Will and Kate make it a practice to turn down most gifts, but they had to make an exception and graciously accepted Fawley's gift. Accepting the painting sends a strong message about fighting the stigma against Down syndrome. 

Heart and Sold, an organization that promotes art created by people with special needs, sent a photo of the finished painting to Will and Kate to see if they would accept it. And how could they not? It's adorable, for one thing. But it was also a chance for the couple to embrace the Down syndrome community and draw attention to Heart and Sold.

But more than that, Will and Kate are setting an example for recognizing and valuing the contributions of people with special needs. Suzie Moffat, the director of Heart and Sold, says "In England, there always has been a stigma attached to (Down syndrome), and now that is washed away by the fact that the Duke and Duchess have accepted that painting. For this to happen, it’s kind of turned that negativity around.” The acceptance of the painting also has the power to encourage other people with Down syndrome to pursue their passion for art.

Will paintings from other artists represented by Heart and Sold start flying off the shelves now, just like every dress Kate wears? I don't know -- it would be amazing if they did! But at the least, I think it's probably their hope that this gesture helps change a few people's perspective.

Do you think accepting this gift will change how people in the UK think of people with Down syndrome?

Image via Pacific Coast News

Click "Like" for more on the Royal Family. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Adriana Velez

is a staff writer who dabbles in food, parenting, news, entertainment, molecular biology, and anything else that that pops into her head. She lives with her elementary school-aged son in Brooklyn, land of urban farms and artisan everything.  

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Suki Waterhouse and Bradley Cooper's Big Age Difference Makes Us Wonder How Long They'll Last

dinsdag 27 augustus 2013

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by Emily Abbate 1 hour ago

It feels like just yesterday we were privileged to the first photos of Bradley Cooper and his then 20-year-old girlfriend model Suki Waterhouse. You know, right after Cooper made a big splash in the media saying that his Silver Linings Playbook costar Jennifer Lawrence was "too young for him." Well, the couple who everyone thought was just reaching out for publicity back in April is still going strong nearly five months later. They were most recently spotted canoodling in Paris, relaxing in a park and reading a book.

She may or may not look like she's 16 years old in her overall and sneaker getup, which makes me feel a little awkward. I'll also note that no one really lays like that comfortably to read a book together. Regardless, they seem pretty engrossed in one another and happy. A happy that no one expected.

... could it be that Suki and Bradley are legit? Seems like the 17-year age gap isn't really fazing them, so why should it bother us -- right?

The thing with age and relationships is that so many people are just used to two people dating that are close in age. A few years here and there, that's not something that brings up a red flag. But a 17-year age gap? Obviously people ask questions. Why is Bradley into this younger girl? Is it only for her looks? Why does Suki want to date someone who is so much older than her? Is she with him for the money?

We don't know. And although it may not be my style to date that much older, I truly do believe you can't help who you fall for. Maybe Bradley and Suki will be together for years to come because they've found qualities in one another that make them happy (personally, I doubt it). Maybe they'll call off the whole thing next week.

At the end of the day, though, you love who you love and heck -- you're entitled.

What do you think of Bradley Cooper and Suki Waterhouse together?

Image via Pacific Coast News

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New Study Linking Autism and Anorexia Could Make All the Difference for Teens With Eating Disorders

woensdag 7 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Jacqueline Burt 4 hours ago

As someone who struggled with anorexia for my entire adolescence and a large part of my childhood, I've always felt that the way in which the condition is treated generally misses the mark. Sure, society's unrealistic expectations for women's bodies and the fashion industry's glorification of emaciated teenagers aggravate symptoms, but anorexia is first and foremost a disease, not the byproduct of a beauty-obsessed culture. Which is why I was interested to learn about a recent study that could change the way doctors and therapists view anorexia entirely: Researchers at Cambridge University have found that girls with anorexia "possess traits that echo characteristics of autism." 

Prior to now, anorexia was considered an eating disorder, primarily. And while the study's lead researcher, Simon Baron-Cohen (hmm, any relation to Sacha Baron Cohen?), calls this a "reasonable" approach because of anorexia's obvious food/body image associations, there's a lot more going on ... 

Apparently, traits shared by both anorexics and those with autism include difficulties in the areas of social interaction, empathy, and communication, plus tendencies towards repetitive behavior and rigid interests. The difference, according to Baron-Cohen, is that in anorexics, these tendencies manifest "as an obsessive focus on food intake, weight, and body shape."

What this means for treatment going forward isn't yet clear, but I'm hopeful this finding is a step in the right direction. The "obsessive focus" really strikes a chord ... I know that when I was at my worst, I felt, more than anything, like I was trapped in some sort of obsessive-compulsive hell: I was less concerned with my actual appearance than I was with the precise location of the needle on the scale or if the skin on the apple I was about to eat was sufficiently uniform in color or whether one day's calorie count came to the exact amount as the day before. 

I learned to manage my symptoms years ago, but one of my worst fears is that my now 12-year-old daughter will someday fall prey to the same disease that overshadowed everything else about my growing-up experience. Hopefully she'll never go through what I went through, but for the sake of all the girls who will, I pray this new information leads to a breakthrough of some kind.

Are you surprised to hear about the link between anorexia and autism?

Image via Paul H/Flickr

Click "Like" for more about parenting kids on the spectrum. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jacqueline Burt

has written for numerous magazines, newspapers, and websites. She is easily bored and often tired, so she requires constant entertainment to keep her awake. Dance, Monkey! Dance! 

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The Details Make All the Difference in This Nursery for a Baby Boy

vrijdag 19 juli 2013

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by Gabrielle Blair 29 minutes ago in Baby

If I could get my hands on one thing in this happy nursery for baby boy Delaney, it would be that beautiful St. George's cross quilt hanging over the crib. What a treasure! As gorgeous as it is, though, there are plenty of other delightful details to be found in this space. Click through for more inspiration below:

I really enjoy this mod print of London hot spots. It's muted and neutral and perfect for the space. 

Other fun prints complement the room decor nicely and I love how uniquely they're all hung and displayed. Who says you need frames?

Tiny little accents make the best decor while keeping things uncluttered and neat. How sweet are those shoes? I die!

Adding a cushion to the top of an Expedit shelving unit from IKEA makes for a soft place to sit, along with extra storage. Of course I love the modern Eames style rocker too. Prop a leg on the crocheted poof and snuggle with the little one in style. 

This nursery does an excellent job of finding the middle ground. There's nothing too extremist or polarizing, and it seems perfectly set up for making the transition to an older child's room some day.

What do you think of this baby's room?

See more of this space on Maida Vale or Apartment Therapy. 

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