Recent Comments

• Tim: Laurie -- Thanks for this info. My congressman voted for this bill, though I was very sad to see that Pete Sessions voted against it. He doesn't represent my area, but I do follow him very closely because of his tie to the DS community. I contacted him through his website to see why he voted against, haven't heard back from him, but I will post anything if I do get a response. Thanks again!...
• ivy: Listen to her here....good stuff. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTwXeZ4GkzI...
• Nancy Iannone: Kate, I assure you that of the many prenatally diagnosed parents I have supported, every one of them including myself has worried intensely about their child's future. Speaking for myself and my child's disability, I never "chose" to produce a child who has Down syndrome, despite the value I believe they do bring to the world. I was not given the choice of Down syndrome or no Down syndrome. I was presented with the choice of life or death, and I chose not to end the life of my child. Yes,...
• Winni-Pig: I cross paths with folks with various disabilities, and find myself wondering "who labelled you" when working with people labeled with intellectual or cognitive disabilities. It's not that they have no challenges at all, but that many things that are just normal have for them been identified as issues related to their disability. This would include things like forgetting things, or being shy in groups, or having odd tastes, or whatever. I bet a lot of these kids have achieved "persona...
• Laurie: My mistake: I think 24 Republicans voted for the bill (still not very many)....
• Laurie: I am so glad as I have just learned that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion Bill, H.R. 4247. However, when I went to the website to see how my representative voted, I was disappointed and angered that all but 8 Republicans voted against this bill that helps keep our children safe. I can't imagine why. If you want to know how your representative voted, you can go to http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll082.xml...
• kate: Hey Everyone, I don't have DS but i do have a similarly debilitating disability. From the problems I have had to go through I will never allow myself to produce another person that has to go through the suffering I have had to. Not because of the way I have been treated as a human being by others, but the frustration of knowing what I want to do and seeing other people doing it but never being able to do it myself as hard as I try, and living through a lot of pain both because of this and becau...
• Fran Adler: My son is 27 years old and in a work program with little or no supports. Actually it is more like a glorified baby sitting service. Is this what parents want for there children? Why is there such lack of services such as behavioral supports, and speech? Isn't my son supposed to receive what he needs to remain healthy and not hurt himself as he is now doing? What are the supports? Doesn't medicaid medicare Waiver cover Speech and Behavioral therapy that he needs to live a good life?...
• missionmom: Well let's face the facts here. Google never takes down any offensive videos mocking the disabled unless forced to. What's the point of their flag button anyway when they refuse to remove any video regardless of its content? No one is asking them to police their site. Just to take a look at the flagged videos and take the appropriate action. Google brought this on themselves. Go to YouTube and type in the word retard in the search button. Be prepared to be amazed at what they get away w...
• Tim: This is exactly what I have been saying from day one about her. She is silent on policy issues, could not have said it better myself. It's not about liking her or not liking, its about being objective and seeing through all the political pandering nonsense and asking yourself if someone who promised to be an advocate and an ally is having a positive impact on what your child, loved one, or you face on a day to day basis. I really do hope she takes on a bigger role. She has the spotlight t...
• jawanda: With all our talk about the "R" word, it was refreshing and humbling to read such a beautiful account about life. May we all be reminded of the frailty and value of life through this account. My prayers are with this family....
• Heytherehitherehothere: Vince, I think the Fox news network who has rightfully earned the noble "media elite" status recently due to their rather large following has been very supportive of her message which was "quit picking on the less fortunate." Is this what you mean by advocacy? What has she done that puts her in this distinguished category of "leading advocate?" She had a baby and she is very proud of him. Can't disagree with you here. But as real advocates, aren't we spinning our wheels using the spotlig...
• Rachel: Whatever candidate you support is beside the point. This advocacy fight can not turn into a political fight. I so appreciate your years of advocacy! We have to get united on the real issue and not let it get clouded by what side of the fence we are on politically. This is about common decency -- the elite media practices from both sides. We have to stand in solidarity against this "satire". Democrat, Republican, Independents -- none of us will take it anymore. Don't let this become just about p...
• Patricia Bauer: David Barlagne seems to have a Facebook page here. It's worth a try. Please let us know what you find out!...
• Dave Hingsburger: Do you, or does anyone, know who or where we, as Canadians, can write to support this family?...
• Vince Staskel: Wow, to read Lennard Davis' article one could certainly think that he is still shooting out from the last election. I may not be a Disability Wonk who writes $150 disability books but as a person with a disability with 32 years in the advocacy field I do have an opinion on this topic. If anyone is exploiting Trig Palin it is the elite media. They disgustingly use a sweet, adorable toddler to attack his mother. There is no question that Sarah Palin is a leading advocate for persons with disabi...
• Lacey: Family Guy is a satirical TV show, this is what they do. The girl that did the voice-over for the down syndrome girl has down syndrome. I guess I just feel like if she can laugh about her own disability, then Sarah Palin can lighten up a bit. Just like Tony said, if you can't learn to laugh at yourself sometimes, then life is gonna be hard. I personally didn't see this episode as an "attack" by any means, she goes on a date with a boy (who doesn't have down syndrome), it doesn't poke fun at her ...
• RooMom: Isn't it always the way that when our representatives say something disgusting and then there is a public outcry, they try to say their comments were "miscontrued." I think his were pretty darn clear and I hope he has many days of squirming and back-tracking ahead. Thanks to the Internet, we all have very long memories. I am a person of faith, but I am sick and tired of hearing people in the public arena speak for God and proclaim his judgment on those they disagree with....
• KathyR: How is being 'mean and aggressive' 'inspirational'? That is not the kind of inspiration I want for my other kids, so why would I view that as inspirational for my child w/Ds?...
• Missy: This is not a funny show. My nephew has Down syndrome and this show should not be aired if it's going to make fun of people and especially children. You should be ashamed of yourself. You should publicly apologize. ...
• Dave Hingsburger: What's offensive is comparing having a child with Down Syndrome with having a heart attack. In my experience people's hearts got stronger as they parented their kids with DS....
• Pamela Wilson: To Rachel, who is asked all the time ‘you didn’t get genetic testing?’ –- how about developing some ’snappy comebacks’ for rude remarks like that? “There’s no prenatal test that will predict whether a child will grow up to be (an insensitive jerk) like you.” I just happened to be thinking of this after reading an article in the Toronto Globe and Mail: There’s No Such Thin...
• Elisabeth's Mom: Dear Kelly, Have you ever read the "Crucible?" Ms. Palin's populism and her idea of advocacy is a little scary to me. I'm sorry if this paints me as her enemy to you....
• julio: That we must work more to learn from the other, to live and especially to respect. It's the words but communicate and get to the other....
• Tony: I enjoyed the episode but maybe that's just my view on the world. There is a difference between somebody trying to treat somebody as if they are somehow less human because of their disability and including somebody with a disability in your storyline. The character in the show didn't seem like some flat character tthat had nothing to her. I don't have down syndrome but I do have a visual impairment and I recieved a lot of crap as a kid. One thing I have learned is that sometimes you have to ...
• Eric Schnur: I wonder what Sarah Palin's record in regard to the special needs community was prior to the birth of her son Trig...
• Amy: I did have the prenatal screening and had some elevated results but refused the amnio, so when my beloved daughter was born with DS I had numerous doctors tell me that "I had a screening test, not a diagnostic test therefore I should not have been totally surprised with the results". However, prior to having a child with DS, I was totally against bringing a child knowingly with DS into this world. How ignorant I was. The best thing that has ever happened to me is having my daughter. I wa...
• ivy: Kelly: I thought Sarah called what Rush said a satire. Oh it’s a satire, it’s ok. That type of thing. to me she thinks what Rush said to be ok, but not what family guy did....
• Rachel: I get asked all the time - you didn't get genetic testing? One woman even felt the need to explain to me that there is testing available to avoid Ds...
• Scott: I agree with you Kelly. It seems as if it is up to Sarah Palin (and sometimes Tim Shriver) to take on the rest of the world when it comes to defending people with developmental disabilities. I'm not sure the "Family Guy" bit was as bad as she thinks, but they also weren't referring to me or my family. I wish she would pick her battles, but at this point, it seems as though all of the battles are going to find her anyway. I think it would be helpful if folks from the NDSS, Arc or Specia...