Comments on: Palin details plan to help kids with ’special needs’

By: Alicia

Alicia — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 06:32:02 +0000

Illinois ranks 51st among the states (and the District of Columbia) “in allocating funds for adults with developmental disabilities to live in small group homes instead of state institution.”

Source: http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2008/08/05/news/state/doc4897e8909e24c094711104.txt

That is not an inconsequential issue, at all. But it’s a little bit different from saying that Illinois ranks 51st in “funding services” for people with disabilities. “Services” is more than just funds for people to live in small group homes.

By: Johanna Mattern Allen

Johanna Mattern Allen — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 05:54:56 +0000

I’m thrilled that at least 11 days from November’s election the GOP ticket has drafted a platform for people with disabilities.

Though I’m saddened that the campaign seems to be lacking proper scientific advice/advisors.

From Palin’s speech today:

“And where does a lot of that earmark money end up? It goes to projects having little or nothing to do with the public good — things like fruit fly research in Paris, France.”

This misinformation needs to be corrected. Fruit fly research she is referring to is at the U of North Carolina and U of South Carolina—not Paris, France—and is terribly important—especially to our disability community.

Fruit flies, like mice and rats, are used as models. The research at U of Chapel Hill discovered a protein in fruit flies that is linked to autism; other fruit fly research is studying Alzheimer’s disease, leukemia, hepatitis C, and multiple conditions; too many to be named here.

Scoffing at fruit flies is like scoffing at scientists using mice or rats as models for research. It seems the GOP ticket has no scientific advisors.

By: mdmom

mdmom — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 01:35:05 +0000

What makes the verbiage on Obama’s website any more believable than something spoken directly by a candidate? how could one possibly put any faith in what is on Obama’s website in regards to supporting people with disabilities when the state of Illinois ranks 51st in funding services for individuals with disabilities? how can one believe he respects individuals with disabilities but also supports no limitations on abortion — 90% of fetuses prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted. clearly, he does not respect these individuals with disabilities……

By: Sara Szwarc

Sara Szwarc — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:54:06 +0000

Okay, so maybe Obama’s plan doesn’t address school vouchers, but if McCain’s plan does not require private or parochial schools to accommodate students with disabilities, it’s potentially a mute point. Ironically, for a man called a “baby-killer” and enemy of the unborn with “special needs,” Obama’s plan looks to me like a proclamation of respect and support for this community.

Please see http://www.barackobama.com/issues/disabilities for his plan. Prior to Palin’s addition to the ticket, I did a search on both Obama’s and McCain’s websites to see their plans for people with disabilities and could not find much of anything at all on McCain’s. McCain voted against the Community Choice Act which Obama co-sponsored. Maybe McCain is having a change of heart due to his running mate, and I’ll certainly give him credit for that, but he still will not get my vote.

By: Sara Szwarc

Sara Szwarc — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:41:05 +0000

Great news, but Senator Obama has had the same points in a plan on his website for months now — since he started his campaign. Thank you to Governor Palin for bringing support for people with disabilities into the forefront for McCain. I don’t see that he was much interested in supporting our families before he met Trig and his mother.

And, see the website: http://www.specialneeds08.blogspot.com for the latest on the false statement that special needs trusts will be taxed under Obama’s plan. Yes that blogger is a Democrat, but it’s pretty easy to see through Palin’s rhetoric on this, regardless of your party affiliation. If our loved ones get more positive support and funding for much needed services as a result of this presidential campaign, it’s worth it; but please don’t assume that Palin will be our advocate based solely on campaign speeches.