McCain and Obama Debate: Down Syndrome, Autism, Special Needs
October 15, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Did Senator John McCain conflate Down Syndrome and autism during the debate tonight?
As Andrew Sullivan just blogged:
I was curious about McCain’s apparent conflation of Down Syndrome and autism. They are very different ways of being human, but they do come under the same umbrella of “special needs” according to Wiki.
Here’s what McCain said about autism (go here for a transcript of the debate from the New York Times):
And by the way, [Sarah Palin] also understands special-needs families. She understands that autism is on the rise, that we got to find out what’s causing it and we’ve got to reach out to these families and help them and give them the help they need as they raise these very special needs children.
She understands that better than almost any American that I know. I’m proud of her and that she has ignited our party and people all over America that have never been involved in the political process. And I can’t tell you how proud I am of her and her family. Her husband’s a pretty tough guy, by the way, too.
Obama responded:
I do want to just point out that autism, for example, or other special needs will require some additional funding if we’re going to get serious in terms of research. That is something that every family that advocates on behalf of disabled children talk about. And if we have an across-the-board spending freeze, we’re not going to be able to do it. That’s an example of, I think, the kind of — the use of the scalpel that we want to make sure that we’re funding some of those programs.
Later in the debate, McCain said:
And I just said to you earlier, town hall meeting after town hall meeting, parents come with kids, children, precious children who have autism.
Sarah Palin knows about that better than most. And we’ll find –and we’ll spend the money, research to find the cause of autism. And we’ll care for these young children. And all Americans will open their wallets and their hearts to do so.
And from MSNBC by political researcher Domenico Montenaro, about McCain on “special needs”:
McCain mentioned that Palin knows more about the issue of autism than nearly anyone. What evidence is there of that?
Because Palin has a child with Down Syndrome, it can be safely assumed she feels a connection with parents of children with special needs.
But what does McCain-Palin specifically want to do about special education? Do they agree with IDEA? Do they want to expand rights for special-education students to private schools? Do they want to increase funding? Do they want more access, by way of funding, to special-ed advocates?
McCain also said they want to help find a cure. But how?
The NIH budget has been slashed in the past eight years. Does McCain-Palin propose additional funding, particularly for autism or Down’s research?
We don’t know. Nothing was or has been laid out.
And here’s some more about McCain and Obama on autism and disability.
And from Daily Kos is this account by a writer whose older sister has Down Syndrome.
I’ve been being bugged about the way Palin has been advocated as someone who will understand special needs in a special way. I don’t really care if she feels my pain, I’m more interested to know if she shares my concerns and is sympathetic to my needs. As I think has been well chronicled in the comments in previous posts here, she is your run of the mill politician, perhaps even worse than normal, when it comes to doing stuff about these issues. So they can shut up about how she feels about it, I don’t care in the absence of the good voting record. I may be on the autistic spectrum but I’m not a one issue voter and she does not impress me as someone I’d like to see being vice president.
When Obama or McCain gets into office, there is a lot of work to be done when it comes to the disability community. Please don’t let anyone fool you into who cares more. Neither party has come through on any of their promises. We just have to hope they get better as they learn. I can’t see why you have any animosity towards Gov. Palin and her view of special needs children. I’m not saying that you should love her because of it, I just don’t see it as a detriment at all. I was under the impression that she actually increased funding for children of special needs in her state.
The big problem with autism is that politics is always involved. Below is a website where medical researchers complain about the interference of social sensibility in the search for autism cures. Specifically, serious researchers are annoyed that some approaches are ruled out in advance in order to appease those who find such approaches “troubling.”
(You know who you are).
http://www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk/resources/vi&multi/hcass96.html
And now we have too schmoozers ready to spend millions of our dollars on politically-correct horse feathers.
I am sorry, but this disgusts me so much I just want to barf.
I am angry that McCain is so out of touch that he doesn’t know the difference between Autism and Down’s. Does anyone else think he thought autism is a euphemism for Down’s?
When McCaain goes and makes comments like that it makes me not want to not vote for him, but want to make sure I get out on election day and vote for Obama even more. To make sure my vote counts. Because I really, truly don’t like the way McCains campaign has been handling the special needs issues.
Sarah Palin has a nephew with autism, I believe. Though why that makes her “understand better than any other American” is another question.
I listened to the last Presidential debate in it’s entirety last night. I was shocked when both candidates actually spoke the word, autism. Is this because of Sarah Palin. Clearly! She has a child with Down’s Syndrome. This obviously makes her an interested party in the world of special needs. Maybe she is using this experience in her life to gain support of the 10% of the population that has special needs. Perhaps. But the reason is not the issue. The point is will she and can she put her money where her mouth is. Will she have the ability and the interest to do this once she would be in office? For me, that is the $64,000 question (maybe I should raise the steaks?).
valerieherskowitz.com
Senator McCain assures us that he will find the money for these programs. Considering the fact that he has not found the money in his prior twenty-six years on Capital Hill; I take what he says with a grain of salt.
@Maureen, Palin does have an autistic nephew, the son of her sister Heather (noted in the LA Times.
An article from Education Week looks at what both candidates have been saying about parents’ roles in their children’s education: McCain stresses choice, Obama responsibility.
NO POLITICIAN should use child disability as a fearmongering tactic to get votes. John McCain’s mention of Autism and Sarah Palin’s “sudden expertise” on the issue makes me SICK. I am a mother with an autistic child. Don’t use my child’s condition as a desperate plea point for your failing campain. If I had one bit of leaning toward McCain, it disappeared in that moment. Autism or any disability should never be used as a partisan issue. NEVER. They way McCain brought that up was NOT appropriate in my opinion because to infer that one party would be “more sensitive” to it than another makes me MAD.
And never mind the fact that McCain has arlready made it perefctly clear that he would freeze spending in nearly every area except military/defense spending. So where does he think the money is going to come from? Oh, right, the wallets of “Joe Plumber” or “Joe Six-Pack” who’ve been laid off or who have to pay more for their health insurance while being foreclosed on? Right.
Funny enough, I had been listening to the debate in a car with about, oh, five or so others. We’d just gone to a lecture about… eugenics. No joke.
Needless to say, I wasn’t particularly pleased with McCain. But I have little reason to be pleased with Obama on that same count. And it didn’t even feel like there was an actual attempt to invoke citizens with disabilities (where the causal slide is really to more invoke the families instead).
Ah, well…
Cliff
Years ago I surmised that there is “money in autism”. I have not changed my mind. Whether the snake oil peddlers or the politicians or the comedians or the actors need a boost, they find a cause. Now they have picked the disease du jour…aka…autism to identify their posture.
Regarding the mention of Down’s Syndrome and Autism in the same breath…. I used to argue at a PPT that a specialist was more knowledgeable than a generic sped teacher. My analogy was that you don’t go to an orthopedist for a heart problem. That is why it is called an Individual Educational Plan.
Just because Mrs. Palin has a child with Downs does not mean she deals with issues the same way parents of autism do. Autism remains less predictable.
It all seems so disingenuous.
Politicians tell people what they think they want to hear. Brilliant politicians tell people what they need to hear. That’s what makes them great statesmen.
On the issue of special needs individuals, I don’t think either candidate is particularly brilliant.
I understand the anger and frustration with both candidates making special needs a focus when we all realize that it will still be a low agenda item when they reach office. Thank you to all of the advocates out there who will keep pushing for better legislation and funding despite the apathy of our government.
Funny. My husband and I were watching the debate and after Sen. McCain mentioned Gov. Palin as knowing more about the issue of special needs and autism than anyone else he knows–we both thought it was peculiar given her skimpy record on special education. If she’s an expert, then she has certainly been hiding her light under a bushel on the specifics of policy. It seemed disingenuous.
Conversely, political ploy or not, having autism and special needs explicitly mentioned in a debate was different.
Just an FYI… Per a profile about her in Newsweek, Cindy McCain was a special educaion teacher.
I think the fact that autism is on the presidential radar is tremendous progress.
The mess created by President Bush and his supporters has brought very difficult times to the national economy. That problem will roll to the state budgets very soon. State’s will start cutting programs in order to avoid deficits. Education, public service and special programs are usually hit first and hardest.
Cindy McCain was a special educaion teacher.
Cindy McCain, as Cindy Lou Hensley, received a BA in education and MS in Special Education at USC. Her 1978 master’s thesis was “Movement therapy: a possible approach”, and she taught students with disabilities at Agua Fria HS, Avondale, AZ.
My understanding is that she left professional education when she married John McCain in 1980.
McCain’s reference to autism was no accident. Think about it — a lot more families are affected by autism, and he’s pandering for votes. My blog, http://specialneeds08.blogspot.com, is being overwhelmed by people asking: What makes Palin an expert on autism? But remember, McCain’s debate comments followed a statement last week that Palin is “uniquely qualified” to cure autism. Read more — http://specialneeds08.blogspot.com
Mark Miller,
Nice job on the blog. Lot of information there.
‘Just got this notice–
Education and the Election
Two must-see events on edweek.org
Live Debate: “Education and the Next President”
Exclusive webcast, Tuesday, October 21, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Eastern time.
Live from Teachers College, Columbia University:
A debate between Linda Darling-Hammond, education adviser to Democratic nominee Barack Obama, and Lisa Graham Keegan, education adviser to Republican nominee John McCain.
Register now to watch the live debate
****************************
Analyzing the Election: What¹s at Stake for Schools?
Available online Wednesday, Oct. 22, 12 p.m. Eastern time
Education Week¹s David J. Hoff moderates a post-debate discussion with leading education analysts.
Watch this exclusive video here
Avideo archive of the debate will be posted here on Oct. 22 by 12 p.m. Eastern time.
You can also follow the debate at twitter.com/edweek2008elect .
Chime in by including #tcdebate in your tweets.
I believe that McCain meant exactly what he said. Gov Palin has a son with Down’s and an autistic nephew. I think that does give her more knowledge than your average american. I have two sisters and I promise you they know what my life is like. I have two children with autism. Their Aunts know much more about autism than the average american and the general problems we all face with our special needs children. I do not think for one second he was confused about the difference between Autism and Down’s. Please get over it already. Neither candidate is going to do what we all need for them to do. I would not base my vote on which candidate talked more about autism. I mean I think they care about our struggles but there is just not enough money to fully fund IDEA especially with the state of the economy right now. I will cast my vote based on the big picture and the complete record of the two candidates. I can not vote for anyone on one issues alone. It just does not make sense.
Good point, Sherry. Like you, I also will not vote on this one issue alone. I’ll vote on things like the economy, health care, education, and foreign policy — and for all those reasons, I’m voting Obama-Biden. I’m ready for a change, and McCain and Palin represent the same old policies and politics.
Please get over it already.
While it’s useful to discuss potential policy and points of view, I don’t think anyone necessarily has to “get over” anything. Individual voters have individual reasons for voting of the candidate of their choice, as is their right as members of the electorate.
For good or for bad, I’m pretty sure I know who I am voting for the Executive branch. Now onto the Congressional races…
When I said “please get over it already”, I meant stop bouncing on every little thing said by McCain or Palin. There are people here who actually think that man does not know that Sarah Palin’s child does not have autism. That is just ridiculous. So “getting over it” would be an appropriate reaction. I know we all have individual reasons we vote the way we do. I just want to look at everything they have done in their careers when making a decision. I personally made my decision a long time ago. I just don’t base it on what they say about autism. I am too cynical I guess but I don’t believe it will be a priority for either of them. That was my point.
Typo – I meant “pouncing”.
I agree that McCain probably knows that Sarah Palin’s son has DS, not autism. But even so, and even granting that she has nephews on the spectrum, it’s pretty ridiculous to say that she understands “better than almost any American” which John McCain knows. If that’s true, it just shows he hasn’t spent much time talking to autistic adults or parents of special needs kids older than five months. He also doesn’t recognize any difference between autism diagnoses being on the rise and actual incidence. His ignorance on the subject extends well beyond the slip-up about Palin.
Both candidates, I thought, committed a huge omission by not mentioning autistic adults at all. To not address us as our own constituency is pretty condescending and telling. I did find McCain’s comments more offensive, because of the ignorance and reliance on fear-mongering and “tragedy” narrative.
I don’t doubt that McCain understand the difference between the two (AS/DS). Nor, do I doubt Palin’s knowledge of her nephew’s autism. That said, I can guarantee that doesn’t mean she knows more about autism than any American; if so, she’s in the wrong field altogether! (wink) Seriously, though, I think there is a world of difference between experiencing a niece/nephew/neighbo’s child with autism and actually parenting one. Ms. Palin has not yet reached the point in mothering her own son where she has to deal with evaluations, IEP’s, fighting for services, etc. I certainly don’t wish her ill, but I also won’t put much stock in her “expertise” until she’s walked a bit in the same shoes.
As a parent of an autistic child i was shocked that the subject of autism at a presidential debate even came up. Perhaps this will raise awareness even more. For my sons sake i sure hope so. Perhaps with enough research and progress, someday i will hear my 6 year old son call me “dad” for the first time.
Doug – thanks for the reminder. I also hope you hear him call you “dad”; maybe with a full frontal hug thrown in for good measure.
Unless Sarah Palin has raised an autistic child herself or is a neurologist who studies autism, she is not an expert.
Her son is still young. She has no idea what it is like to raise a special-need child. At least not yet.
Wait until her son is 37, then come back and tell me she has experience raising a special need child.
@satchmo,
Even after 10 years or 5 years, she’d most likely have something more to say……
There are no experts in autism. There are no neurological tests or genetic tests or chemical tests. There are only a list of obvious behavioral symptoms listed in the DSM IV. A pimp could diagnose it just as well as a neurologist. The only thing a neurologist could do is rule out *real* neurological diseases, like Parkinsons, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, etc.
Sidebar
Cindy McCain was a special education teacher.
I was doing some reading on Joe Biden and found it of interest that Mrs. Biden, Jill, has been an active educator (2 masters + doctorate) since at least 1977 and spent several years teaching remedial reading, English and history to teens at the Rockford Center Psychiatric Hospital, DE, and is a faculty member at the Delaware Technical and Community College. So there is some education background there as well.
Wikipedia entry – Jill Biden
The archived webcast is now online for viewing and will be online until April.
“Education and the Next President”
From Teachers College, Columbia University:
A debate between Linda Darling-Hammond, education adviser to Democratic nominee Barack Obama, and Lisa Graham Keegan, education adviser to Republican nominee John McCain.
More info and links to register to view
A well-known conservative stating his reservations about the McCain-Palin ticket,
Call Him John the Careless
George F. Will
Washington Post, October 30, 2008
“…Did McCain, who seems to think that Palin’s never having attended a “Georgetown cocktail party” is sufficient qualification for the vice presidency, lift an eyebrow when she said that vice presidents “are in charge of the United States Senate”?
She may have been tailoring her narrative to her audience of third-graders, who do not know that vice presidents have no constitutional function in the Senate other than to cast tie-breaking votes. But does she know that when Lyndon Johnson, transformed by the 1960 election from Senate majority leader into vice president, ventured to the Capitol to attend the Democratic senators’ weekly policy luncheon, the new majority leader, Montana’s Mike Mansfield, supported by his caucus, barred him because his presence would be a derogation of the Senate’s autonomy? …”
Besides his career as a political commentator for the Washington Post, and author on a number of subjects, George Will is well known as the father of Jon Will, who has Down Syndrome. Mr. Will has written several articles about Jon, including,
Jon Will’s Aptitudes
On The Up With Down Syndrome, A Publication of the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin (Originally appeared in Newsweek, May 3, 1993. Quoted above from the collection The Leveling Wind: Politics, the Culture, and Other News, 1990-1994)