I think there’s a more nuanced issue at hand here - without knowing Sophia or perhaps her carers (if she needs them) then we aren’t in a position to judge what is right or wrong for her.

I was an advocate for looked after children, including many disabled children for years. That means I stood up for what they wanted to do. If this is what Sofia wants to do then who is society to argue with her. However, many disabilities - including Down’s syndrome can come with a spectrum of other issues, some of which can include learning disabilities.

So, whilst I think the whole ‘handlers’ thing is abhorrent, I’m also loathe to issue a carte blanche for the opposite position too. When people are vulnerable and when perhaps they MAY lack the capacity to fully understand the implications of their action - then wider society has a duty of care to ensure they tread carefully.

The difference between someone saying ‘this is what I want’ and someone saying ‘this is what I want’ because they’ve been unduly pressured by others around them is complicated both within society and in law. Now, I don’t think that’s the case in this instance - but there are safeguards in place for a reason and we toss them aside for ‘empowerment’ at our peril.