Disability advocates warily optimistic about Palin’s pledge
September 5th, 2008
From Samantha Henig in Newsweek magazine:
Disability rights advocates were enthusiastic about GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, but wondered how she will follow through on her promise to be “a friend and advocate in the White House.”
While some parents were delighted at the prospect of being represented by another parent of a child with a disability (Trig Palin, above), other advocates questioned whether a Republican administration would fund needed services. Special education funding was named as a big concern, as well as supports for employment and housing.
Among those quoted were David Braddock, executive director of the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities at the University of Colorado (”"These are words that are easy to say, but apparently more challenging for some presidents to implement”) and Peter V. Berns, executive director of the Arc of the United States (The country is “on the precipice of a major crisis.”)
David Tolleson, executive director of the National Down Syndrome Congress, said he wasn’t troubled, as some liberal bloggers were, at Palin’s bringing her infant son along to the convention celebration. “So far, all that I’ve seen is what I’ve seen from every other candidate as long as I’ve been watching conventions,” he said.
(AP/Newsweek photo)
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September 10th, 2008 at 7:56 am
Who ever stated “parents of special needs children want government programs to completely support our families?” I have a 19 year daughter with 1p36 deletion syndrome, three heart defects, a seizure disorder and many other health related problems. With as many times as that little girl was in the hospital, how do you think I survived after a divorce, and raising another child?
I was forced into poverty, however, when my daughter was in a “healthy” mode, I worked while she was in school. I did not appreciate Ms. Palin saying if they were elected into office that they would be our advocates. That is a lie!
Her family has all the resources in the world that I wished I would have had. I strongly and painstakingly advocated many years for parents of special needs children. I have coordinated a support group, helped raise funds for our local respite center so it would not close, spoke in Des Moines a few times, was asked by a local doctor to speak at a convention of doctors, and asked the Goodwill to open a board meeting so a few families could show how the closing of the respite center would hurt so many families.
I could go on and on but I won’t. I feel the women that are for Palin are being so blinded by the thought of a woman that they are not viewing her extreme conservative side. I resent her stating that she will be our advocate. She is the type as Governor Blunt was to take away so many programs from the disabled population in Missouri.
I am angry at our country for not listening to the issues and looking only at race, gender, age etc. I am not for anyone at this point and our politicians better step up and start showing us what they are made of. Thank you!
September 6th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
What are the most important things to parents of children with Down syndrome?
(1) Health Care. The GOP has no plan to provide health care for the millions of Americans who are losing their health insurance.
(2) IDEA. The GOP has fought to prevent full funding of IDEA and without full funding many disabled children are not getting the services that they need and deserve.
(3) ADA. The GOP has fought to prevent enforcement of ADA.
(4) Group homes. For many parents we worry about what will happen to our child when they grow up and we are no longer able to care for them. The GOP has no plans to provide the funding required to provide group homes to all the disabled and autistic people who are not going to be able to care for themselves.
September 6th, 2008 at 4:54 am
NH -
It turns out it does take a village to raise a child. In my opinion, the government is part of that village.
Why in the world wouldn’t you want every single resource available to help insure your brother’s future? Do you disagree that the government should provide support, resources, and inclusion so that families, society, and people with disabilities can take care of themselves?
I don’t quite understand why you feel it is appropriate to try to shame other commentators here as many of us are parents raising children with Down syndrome, as am I. Are are my opinions and experiences as a parent for some reason not as valid as those of a sibling? A sibling who likely watched her brother grow up may not have been privy to all of the decision making, compromises, and details that were part of raising him.
We are all trying to create the best possible world for our children to grow up in … even if that means looking at that future with a critical eye. Certainly we don’t have to agree on how to make the future we want, but don’t we all want a future ripe with possibilities for our loved ones?
(Editor’s note: The comment above is slightly modified from an earlier version at the request of the author.)
September 5th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
I have a Down’s brother and I find the vicious and unwarranted attacks on Palin to be disgusting.
Handicapped people like my brother who thrive are those who are cared for by their own families, not by government as many liberals think they should be.
Reinforcing strong families like the Palins are what will best help the handicapped, not more government programs.
I find this article to be cynical and nasty as well as the comments from some of you ‘reds’ here on the left.
Shame on you!