Heidi Crowter
Crowter in 2021
Born
Coventry, England, UK
OccupationDisability rights advocate

Heidi Crowter is an English disability rights advocate. Crowter campaigns for the anti-abortion group Don't Screen Us Out, challenging the Abortion Act 1967 which she views as discriminatory against fetuses with disabilities.

Early life

Heidi Crowter was born to Liz and Steve Crowter. Soon after her birth her parents discovered she had Down syndrome. Crowter has had leukemia, pneumonia, and kidney failure. She had cardiac surgery shortly after her birth. Crowter has two older brothers and a younger sister.[1] At the age of 16, Crowter was a victim of internet trolling and harassment related to her Down syndrome.[2]

Career

Crowter works at a hair salon in Coventry managing its social media accounts and working with children.[1]

Crowter is involved in the campaign Don't Screen Us Out.[1][3] Crowter and two others sued the Department of Health and Social Care alleging that the Abortion Act 1967 was discriminatory by allowing for the abortion of fetuses with Down syndrome and other diagnoses until the time of birth.[4] In September 2021, the case was rejected by judges.[5] However, in March 2022 Crowter was given permission to appeal the verdict on limited grounds.[6]

Crowter was honored as one of the BBC 100 Women in December 2022.[7]

Personal life

James Carter and Heidi Crowter in July 2021

Crowter is a Christian. She met her future husband, James Carter, online in 2017. They were engaged in 2018.[1] In 2020, Crowter married James Carter at Hillfields Church in Coventry.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Down's syndrome campaigner Heidi Crowter on marriage and loving life". BBC News. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Web trolls: Mum's horror over abuse of Down's Syndrome daughter". BBC News. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  3. ^ Hattenstone, Simon (3 December 2018). "'My life is just as important as everybody else's': meet the disability leaders". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  4. ^ Topping, Alexandra (23 September 2021). "Woman with Down's syndrome loses UK abortion law case". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  5. ^ Hui, Sylvia (23 September 2021). "Woman with Down syndrome loses UK abortion law challenge". Associated Press. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  6. ^ Harrison, Sian (8 March 2022). "Woman can take Down's syndrome abortion fight to Court of Appeal". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  7. ^ "BBC 100 Women 2022: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Coventry Down's syndrome campaigner gets married as restrictions ease". BBC News. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2021.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heidi Crowter.
Abortion in the United Kingdom
100 Women by BBC in 2022
Authority control databases
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