The family of a teenager with Down's Syndrome have demanded answers after the girl was removed from photos printed in the school's yearbook.
Morgyn Arnold is a much loved member of her school's cheerleading team in Utah, US, but found that she had been left out of the official picture and had her name omitted the list of team members.
After the book was released, Morgyn's sister Jordyn Poll posted side-by-side images on Facebook of the photo her sibling had posed for and an identical one which was taken without her.
She wrote: 'It’s the SAME cheer team – SAME girls, SAME photo shoot, SAME poses, but one included all team members and one did not.
'Unfortunately, the first one was posted on the school’s social accounts and in the school yearbook. Additionally, Morgyn's name wasn’t even mentioned as a part of the team. She wasn’t included.
'She spent hours learning dances, showing up to games, and cheering on her school and friends but was left out… A choice was made on which photo to submit, a choice made MULTIPLE times and a choice that excluded Morgyn EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.'
Jordyn moved to clarify that the decision had nothing to do with the other girls in the team, who she says had always been "kind and inclusive", and had been equally hurt over the treatment of their friend, as reported by Kidspot.
In the photo Morgyn posed for, she is not wearing the uniform matching her teammates, and is also the only squad member not to be holding pom poms - and now Jordyn is hoping to raise awareness and spark change.
Jordyn says the school's initial response was "as ignorant as the photo", claiming an administrator "blatantly said they didn’t know what we were expecting of them".
The Salt Lake Tribune reports the school has since issued an apology, stating: "We are deeply saddened by the mistake that was made that omitted a student photo out of the yearbook.
"Apologies have been made to the family, and we sincerely apologize to all others impacted by this error. We are continuing to look at what has occurred, and to improve our practice."
Jordyn's demand for people to "be better" was echoed by those left similarly outraged on social media, as one said: "I would like to see a photo of all the administrators with RESIGNED next to each name. Shameful behaviour. Repugnant."
A second wrote: "There should have never been a picture taken without her."
And another demanded: "They should reprint the whole damn yearbook."
