BellaOnline Forums Family Special Needs Children Sarah Palin and Down Syndrome Awareness

Many parents and local advocacy groups report that a great deal of information and awareness has been made available about babies with Down syndrome and some about students and adults with Down syndrome, too. Do you think that the articles in newspapers and news segments media has presented have created better awareness and support for individuals with Down syndrome?

Some parents have been distressed by suggestions that most pro-choice families choose to terminate pregnancies of babies prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome - many pro-choice moms report that their children were diagnosed prenatally.

Other parents have been frustrated by suggestions that pro-life families of babies prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome are usually placed for adoption as the alternative for terminating the pregnancy.

Both of these stereotypes are inaccurate and hurtful to families who treasure their children who have Down syndrome. Portraying individuals with Down syndrome as having so little potential or quality of life that pro-choice moms terminate pregnancies and pro-life moms give birth only as part of an adoption plan is misleading and contrary to the experience of families.

Also, suggesting that children with Down syndrome are so difficult and unsatisfying to raise that their parents must be saints or special in any way is equally ignorant and insulting.

Statistics do show that 90% of parents who receive a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome terminate the pregnancy, so it's clear that pro-life as well as pro-choice parents are choosing that option. Many families and advocates believe this high percentage is due to medical professionals and genetic counselors not having accurate information about Down syndrome or experience with people who have grown up with Down Syndrome in recent decades.

Raising any child means parents cross a threshold of care and concern that would end our species without the delights and emotional rewards each of them brings to the family. Children with Down syndrome are more like their mainstream peers than they are different, and we would appreciate news coverage and awareness to reflect that they are ordinary and extraordinary just like their brothers and sisters who are not chromosomally enhanced.

Please be aware that parents' perspectives evolve and change according to the ages of their children and their experiences with their communities ~ what we might see as a positive article or news story today may seem shockingly inadequate or even prejudiced in a few years. Learning to use respectful language and being sensitive to readers and viewers who have grown up with Down syndrome is a good first step for those in the media.

While we appreciate the new media attention on Down syndrome, our sons and daughters are individuals and so are our families. Stereotypes, misconceptions and outdated information can be avoided by getting to know many children and adults who have Down syndrome and learning that DS is only a small part of who they are and what they are meant to accomplish.

Pam W
SE of Seattle

[url=BellaOnline ALERT: For anti-spam reasons, we restrict the number of URLs allowed in a given post. You have exceeded our maximum number of URLs.

I hope to consider myself a special needs advocate (esp. when it comes to adoption) but I am not a Palin fan. Of course most of those I work with (who work specifically with international down syndrome adoption) love her. I think she uses her son in a political manner and exploits him to some extent, beyond that I believe it is a horrible tactic to manipulate mothers by their heartstring in an effort to get them to lose sight of other real issues.

Mindy, I have to agree somewhat. I cringed when she made her little speech about being an advocate... while it is nice to know, I am not sure that the time and place was right for her to say it. Maybe if she had waited until it was brought up it might have come across as more sincere and less of a political tactic to gain support from other mothers/parents of special needs children. I am happy to see awareness though. Because of the awareness I was able to learn about how commonplace it is for women to be tested and have abortions to rid themselves of the perceived burden of these special needs children. Of course, people have abortions for lesser reasons so it should come as no shock or surprise.

Boston Globe September 10, 2008
[url=BellaOnline ALERT: For anti-spam reasons, we restrict the number of URLs allowed in a given post. You have exceeded our maximum number of URLs.

There is an excellent article with 'Frequently Asked Questions' generated by Trig Palin and the new interest in Down syndrome - as well as stereotypes related to prenatal testing and raising children with Down syndrome, at PatriciaEBauer.com:

Questions - We Get Questions

http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/09/05/questions-we-get-questions/



Pam W
SE of Seattle

Welcoming Babies with Down Syndrome
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32534.asp

I was looking for a more in-depth story about Sarah Palin and found that there is a book out about her life before being chosen as John McCain's running mate. The description says that it is the first book about Sarah Palin - but I bet it won't be the last.

[url=BellaOnline ALERT: For anti-spam reasons, we restrict the number of URLs allowed in a given post. You have exceeded our maximum number of URLs.

The paragraph about Trig Palin is said to be on page 136, in [u][url=BellaOnline ALERT: For anti-spam reasons, we restrict the number of URLs allowed in a given post. You have exceeded our maximum number of URLs.

Katie Couric has been interviewing Sarah Palin this week, but I have missed the news when she was on. Have they talked about family matters or has it been all foreign policy, the economy, etc?

It seems as though less focus is on Down syndrome-related stories now that they are getting closer to the election, or maybe stories about Wall Street, credit and the economy are edging out family stories.

I doubt that we will see families at the October 2nd Vice Presidential debate tomorrow.

Pam W
SE of Seattle

[url=BellaOnline ALERT: For anti-spam reasons, we restrict the number of URLs allowed in a given post. You have exceeded our maximum number of URLs.

I have not seen recent articles raising awareness about Down syndrome and I hope that the media has not lost interest during the presidential race. This is Down Syndrome awareness month and our sons and daughters deserve to be seen and heard.

Something I appreciate about Sarah Palin is the awareness she is bringing about moms of kids with Down syndrome - we are an attractive, accomplished and fit lot who should all find greater opportunities in life.

Where should I send my resume?

:-)

Pam W
SE of Seattle

Sarah Palin and Down Syndrome Awareness
BellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!

I did see the families of the Vice Presidential candidates come onstage after the debate. Is big sister Piper just seven years old? I was uncomfortable watching her carry baby Trig across the stage and out. Of course, there was not as big an age difference between my son and his older sister, so it could just be me.

Joe Biden's grand-daughters were beautiful and poised, and I did enjoy seeing so many family members onstage. As the campaign gets a little meaner I'm sure the children will be farther from the exchanges.

Pam W
SE of Seattle

Sibling Support and Rivalry
BellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!