Comments on: Prenatal Genetic Testing: Preventing Disability? Accepting Human Diversity?

By: Autism Vox » Infants and Autism and Education

Autism Vox » Infants and Autism and Education — Fri, 18 May 2007 15:13:22 +0000

[...] glad to know about Charlie’s being autistic as early as might have been possible—via a prenatal genetic test (and such may well be likely some day)—so that I could learn about what to expect as the [...]

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 14 May 2007 17:37:53 +0000

It feels like a slippery slope into disposing of any child that is not what we expect. What if someone wanted a boy and got a girl would it be considered okay to abort the pregnancy. I could not have imagined what it would be like to have a daughter with autism. How much I would not mind the extra work and care that she demands and the emence love and respect I have for her. There are times I wish that things were easier for her, but I am so proud of all that she has accomplished and look forward to helping her overcome more. She has taught me so much about the strength of the human spirit and my life would not be as fullfilled without her in it. I know my Aunt and Uncle would say the same about my cousin with Downs syndrome. We are not monsters for wanting and loving our children the way that they are, we are just parents trying to do the best that we can for them.

By: Seven Jay

Seven Jay — Mon, 14 May 2007 16:59:59 +0000

With all of the rhetoric over abortion rights, it’s interesting that there is little national debate over the ethics of genetic screening. Maybe it’s because people have already voted with their feet. Republican politicians may whip up a frenzy for their right-wing Christian constituency, but I’d be surprised if their 2008 nominee makes a statement along the lines of: “We must stop this genetic screening and murder of babies. Parents should be prepared to take care of their children no matter what. If I am elected president, I will do everything in my power to imprison those who would kill their children just because they may have cystic fibrosis, Down’s Syndrome, severe autism, or any other condition”.

I guarantee that would not play with the majority of voters.

By: Autism Vox » Responses to NYTimes article on Down syndrome

Autism Vox » Responses to NYTimes article on Down syndrome — Sun, 13 May 2007 01:02:30 +0000

[...] on persons with Down syndrome and their parents, and the questions faced by parents today due to prenatal genetic testing. If you are like me and know, as one commenter wrote, that our autistic—-our [...]

By: Autism Vox » Bullying, Ashley X, Eugenics, and One Celebrity Reference

Autism Vox » Bullying, Ashley X, Eugenics, and One Celebrity Reference — Fri, 11 May 2007 17:52:34 +0000

[...] comments on embryo eugenics in regard to Britain ordering a clinic to weed out embryos with a squint (see Telegraph.co.ul) and also in regard to families of children with Down syndrome advocating against abortion; [...]

By: Kassiane

Kassiane — Fri, 11 May 2007 05:04:07 +0000

No one has adequetely explained to me what’s wrong with people with Down Syndrome…much less what makes having an extra chromosome a capital offense. I have, however, never met a single parent who regretted chosing their child with DS, and have heard about adults protesting prenatal screenings. And good for them. If they don’t feel they’re better off dead then…well…I stand with them. Just like many DS adults have stood beside me on issues surrounding autism.

There is no such thing as a wrong child. And in my opinion if you want a kid, you want the child you make, lumps and all. If you only want a “perfect” kid than frankly you aren’t mature enough to be a parent. The last time people tried deciding who was and was not worthy of life the deciders got declared war criminals.

By: Em

Em — Fri, 11 May 2007 04:57:14 +0000

I’m not even going to comment on the whole idea of eugenics right now because there’s no way that I could phrase what I’d say in a nice manner.

Moving on… with a paraphrase of a quote, all you have to do is decide what to do with what’s given to you (quote adapted from Lord of the Rings). Yeah, dealing with autism or with an autistic person is difficult, but it makes things all the greater if you actually persevere and do well in the end.

Kristina, we need more parents like you in the world. We need more parents who have children with disabilities and handle the situation with a fair amount of grace, good humor and, most of all, maturity.

-Em

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Fri, 11 May 2007 02:38:10 +0000

It is true that some things—talking—-are harder for my son Charlie. It is also true that we have learned how to communicate with him in ways that are the easiest and best for him. I also think it would be presumptuous of me to simply state that my son is “suffering” — he has had to learn different ways of managing the world and much has to be learned by him than many simply pick up without direct teaching. He has completely changed and enriched my life and being—I would suffer terribly without him.

By: Ballastexistenz

Ballastexistenz — Fri, 11 May 2007 01:33:33 +0000

Heroiclife, the moral atrocity is views like yours that make it very clear you would rather that neither I nor just about anyone I’m close to should exist, that our existence itself is a moral atrocity to be prevented at all costs. That is called eugenics, what you are doing is called hate speech, and it is certainly far more vile than the fact of the existence of certain kinds of human beings who clearly make you way too uncomfortable (poor you).

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 10 May 2007 18:06:24 +0000

HeroicLife,

How do you know that a fetus is not a child? Can you prove that? Do you have science to show that the brain is not active, or that the heart is not pumping? What about when the eyes open?

And how is it anything other than fearmongering to lay all the blame for something on one religion? (One that I don’t practice by the way.)

I am happy, and I’ve not been a burden on anyone, nor is my mother a monster for having me. And honestly I don’t think she’d have changed her mind if someone had told her there was a chance I’d be autistic before I was born. But people like you would have pressured her to not give birth to me, just because I “might” be lots of trouble.

Remember, pro-choice is about choice. If you are pro-choice then you have to accept it when someone chooses to have a child, even if they are choosing to have a child that will face different challenges than those that you consider normal or acceptable. Because ultimately it is their choice, not yours.

Just because you suffer when having to deal with those of us who are different from you does not mean that everyone else suffers because of us.