Comments on: On representation, imagination, and prenatal screening for disabilities

By: Gender Selection and Prenatal Genetic Testing

Gender Selection and Prenatal Genetic Testing — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:05:08 +0000

[...] William Saletan in Slate: Notice how the new transforms the old. What’s old is sex selection: choosing whether to abort your fetus based on whether it’s a boy or a girl. What’s new is the combination of ease, safety, and [...]

By: Autism Vox » Prenatal Genetic Testing: Preventing Disability? Accepting Human Diversity?

Wed, 09 May 2007 06:26:06 +0000

[...] have considered this question before here: If you had known your child would be autistic before he or she was born, would you still have had [...]

By: Autism Vox » A Lot of Knowledge Is Not a Bad Thing: Prenatal Testing and Diagnosis

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 17:41:55 +0000

[...] Back in the earlier days of this blog, I referred to “prenatal genetic testing” as a “fighting word“: Simply put, the notion of a prenatal genetic test for autism brings with it the possibility of expecting parents finding out that their child-to-be has autism, and of the parents choosing not to have the child—-of eugenic abortion. [...]

By: Autism Vox » Genetic Testing: Let the buyer beware

Autism Vox » Genetic Testing: Let the buyer beware — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 03:00:38 +0000

[...] Mention of a prenatal genetic test for autism arouses serious concerns in autism circles: What decisions might expecting parents make about a fetus who they know will be disabled? Will have autism? [...]

By: Genetics and Health » We Love Genetics… We Love Genetics Not

Genetics and Health » We Love Genetics… We Love Genetics Not — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 13:35:57 +0000

[...] WLG: Kristina Chew of Autism Vox discusses prenatal testing for disabilities and ponders the tug between societal good and personal good. Life with her son who has autism is challenging but Kristina couldn’t imagine life without him. [...]

By: Autism Vox » Survey on Perspectives of people with disabilities or chronic health conditions on genetics

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 17:55:01 +0000

[...] Genetic testing is a topic that can arouse impassioned, and sometimes angry, discussion in autism circles: If prenatal screening reveals that a child has a disability, what choices might parents make? [...]

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 16:47:16 +0000

When my doctor explained the test for Down Syndrome to me while I was expecting Charlie, the words that came out of my mouth were “well, of course I’ll have the baby, regardless.” Charlie was already moving (I rather feel that I could “feel” him from shortly after conception).

In the course of doing research for his book (which is—to mention something totally different—on the New York/New Jersey waterfront), my husband Jim learned that Arthur Miller had “‘placed’” his son Daniel, born with Down Syndrome in 1962, immediately in an institution (see RaggedEdge).

If I ever teach a course on autism and disability studies, there will be plenty to talk and think about.

By: sharon

sharon — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 09:53:12 +0000

I was offered the nuchal translucency test when I was pregnant with Lady in 1997. I was on the couch having an ultrasound scan at the time, and had not read or been told anything about it in advance. I opted for the test, without thinking too much about it. I refused it for my next 2 pregnancies as I really didn’t want to know.

Those quotes from the doctors are disturbing. It’s obvious that people are expected to want to terminate pregnancies when a disability is detected.

A relative told me about a friend who has had her 2nd child with Down Syndrome. They are all ‘devastated’ and I was expected (I think) to join in the chorus of sympathy. This woman had even had all the screening and had been told her child was healthy (meaning ‘normal’) so she was extra upset. I’m sure in time they will come to accept their children as they are, but I do feel for the little girl who managed to sneak past the barriers.

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 01:46:45 +0000

The youngest child on our street has Down’s Syndrome.

She is a ray of sunshine in her family’s life.

I can’t imagine seeing her mother out walking now without her in the stroller, smiling and waving at everyone.

(Short street. 6 occupied houses, 4 families with children. Ours are the 2nd through 4th youngest on the street.)

By: Autism Vox » “Have you ever wanted not to be a parent anymore?”

Autism Vox » “Have you ever wanted not to be a parent anymore?” — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 01:12:25 +0000

[...] You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Related Posts: The Autistic ArkThe Shadow of the Bad ParentFixing vs.Teaching, Science vs. Pseudoscience, and What Did You Really Think About the Video?More Beautiful AutismWhodunit?: Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern [...]