Overview

• The documentary aired on ITV1 on May 27 and follows Simmonds as she weighs her options for having children given her dwarfism.
• In a pivotal phone call, Simmonds’s birth mother describes receiving harsh medical advice, feeling unsupported and expressing deep regret over the adoption.
• Simmonds meets expectant parents facing diagnoses such as Down’s syndrome and achondroplasia to explore their fears, decisions and early bonding experiences.
• Geneticists and fetal medicine specialists contribute to discussions on embryo screening, the ethics of reducing certain conditions and long-term implications for disability rights.
• While reviewers praise Simmonds’s empathy and honesty, some critics say the programme falls short on examining wider social stigma and support systems for disabled families.