"The current UK abortion law is downright discrimination!"

A case that would change everything and save more than 275 lives every year.

Heidi Crowter, 25, has called for a judicial review of the law that allows foetuses with Down's Syndrome to be aborted up to birth. She is challenging the UK Government on the grounds of "unfair treatment" against disabled people. She believes that allowing abortions over 24 weeks for foetuses with Down's Syndrome is unlawful discrimination.

Watch: Introducing Heidi Crowter

Heidi would describe herself as bubbly, talkative and "unapologetically me". She has a job, a flat, and a husband but just happens to have Down's Syndrome. She says her life is worth living and she loves having Down's Syndrome.

Heidi is also a national Down's Syndrome campaigner.

Throughout her life Heidi has been educating society about Down's Syndrome. She has a job at a hair dresser's in Lemington Spa, she bought a flat with her earnings, and got married last August to "the love of her life", James Carter.

"I will always stand by Heidi, she is my whole life and I love her"
James Carter, Heidi's husband

James also happens to have Down's Syndrome and says he will "always stand by Heidi in any of her endeavours".

Heidi has been using "#noonetoldmymum" on her social media to challenge society's beliefs about disabilities. In her own words, she is "living the dream" and "wouldn't change her life for the world".

Heidi has been a human rights campaigner since she could talk and her latest venture has been her most ambitious so far. With the support of the Down's Syndrome community, Heidi has raised over £75,000 to fund her legal case and it has now reached the High Court, heading to trial on 6th July 2021.

THE LAW

Heidi will challenge the UK Government on the grounds of ‘unfair treatment’ against disabled people. She is asking for the law that allows women to abort a child with an extra chromosome over 24 weeks to be abolished.

She says that this law makes her feel "singled out by the government". It upsets her that her life isn't considered to hold the same value as a typical baby; even though she believes she deserves the same rights.

Heidi’s lawyer, Paul Conrathe said;

"This is a hugely significant moment as the Court has recognised it is arguable that the State is acting unlawfully towards babies with Downs Syndrome by allowing them to be aborted up to birth."

"The Government now has to prepare its detailed evidence opposing the case. We will have an opportunity to reply to that evidence. The case will then go to trial. It is expected that this will happen in July of 2021."

Watch: The Down's Syndrome Abortion Law, explained

Heidi Crowter speaking at the World Down's Syndrome Congress in Glasgow

Heidi Crowter speaking at the World Down's Syndrome Congress in Glasgow

"I want to be a cleaner, and grow a beard and a man bun one day."
Tom Enoch, 16

"I love playing with my friends and drawing."
Kitty Adams, 7

"When I grow up I want to be a hairdresser, I could do anything."
Erin Rigler, 13

The Down's Syndrome community -
Heidi's supporters

Aidan Wilson, 18 months

Heidi has joined forces with Máire Lea-Wilson, who has an 18-month old baby boy with Down's Syndrome. She had Aidan at 37 weeks, after being told there was a high chance he would have Down's Syndrome.

Abortion was never an option for her, but she felt hugely let down by the NHS during her pregnacy. She said; "we were given little to no guidence about Down's Syndrome, and all the nurses on call acted truly devastated about the news".

In fact, according to reseach conducted by "Positive About Down's Syndrome", 89% of women felt like support was lacking in hospitals.

Nicola Enoch, the Founder of "Positive About Down's Syndrome", says that society's perception of Down's Syndrome is what caused her to almost abort her son.

Tom is now the light of her life and has many aspirations for the future. Nicola has spent the past 16 years educating the world on the joys of having child with an extra chromosome.