Editorial: ‘Friendship’ from Palin is not enough
September 22nd, 2008Editors at the Baltimore Sun say families of children with disabilities have reason to be doubtful about Gov. Sarah Palin’s pledge to be their “friend and advocate.”
What they need, first and foremost, is for politicians to put money where their mouth is — starting with support services and related community-based programs. Advocates estimate there are about 600,000 people nationwide on waiting lists for such benefits as job coaching, vocational rehabilitation, personnel assistants and respite care for exhausted caregivers.
… The candidates’ views on these matters are reflected on their Web sites. Mr. Obama’s includes a nine-page treatise on his plans to help the disabled, including full funding for special education. Mr. McCain’s 14 core campaign issues include the Second Amendment and the space program but not the disabled.
Mr. McCain still has time to come around on these issues and offer specific remedies in the weeks ahead. Having a poster mom for families caring for a disabled child on the ticket is not enough — particularly for aging seniors who can no longer care for middle-aged children. Friendship is nice, but families need a government willing to invest more in the future of children who require a little help if they are to live full and productive lives.
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September 23rd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
As the parent of a child with Down syndrome, I absolutely love to see and hold babies that have the same genetic condition as my little Heath. As Trig is only a few months younger than my son, I’m sure Sarah Palin feels the same way. I think it’s pretty cynical to suggest this was merely a ‘photo-op’.
We shouldn’t forget that Governor Palin is the mother of a child with Down syndrome, and probably was smitten by Ricky as I was the minute I saw him in photos Gretchen sent me. She is not only promising to advocate for our children; she is promising to advocate for her own as well. I dont’ doubt that she is dedicated to her son and will be his advocate as we all are to our precious ones.
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:04 am
As parents of children with special needs we’ve had to develop critical thinking skills to advocate in the medical, education, service provider, etc. worlds. It’s important to use those well-honed critical thinking skills in the poltical world, as well, and look beyond “photo-ops” and anecdotal promises to advocate for our children.
It would be enormously helpful and speak volumes if the candidates, at the very least, could help us by laying out on their own websites their positions on disability. It would be a great place to start to help us figure out what they actually plan to do in office.