Comments on: Responses to NYTimes article on Down syndrome http://www.blisstree.com/articles/responses-to-nytimes-article-on-down-syndrome/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Sun, 06 Dec 2009 09:36:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Autism Vox http://www.blisstree.com/articles/responses-to-nytimes-article-on-down-syndrome/comment-page-1/#comment-534526 Autism Vox Sun, 13 May 2007 22:02:10 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/responses-to-nytimes-article-on-down-syndrome/#comment-534526 [...] is a “serious defect” in a baby—–some consider Down syndrome to be such, against the strong objections of families with a relative with [...] [...] is a “serious defect” in a baby—–some consider Down syndrome to be such, against the strong objections of families with a relative with [...]

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/responses-to-nytimes-article-on-down-syndrome/comment-page-1/#comment-534512 Kristina Chew, PhD Sun, 13 May 2007 14:25:13 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/responses-to-nytimes-article-on-down-syndrome/#comment-534512 The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/13/weekinreview/13harm.html?ref=weekinreview">NY Times</a> has yet another article----an op-ed by Amy Harmon, who wrote the <a href="http://www.autismvox.com/prenatal-genetic-testing-preventing-disability-accepting-human-diversity/">May 9th article on families choosing to have a child with Down syndrome</a>----entitled <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/13/weekinreview/13harm.html?ref=weekinreview">Genetic Testing + Abortion = ???</a>. The NY Times has yet another article—-an op-ed by Amy Harmon, who wrote the May 9th article on families choosing to have a child with Down syndrome—-entitled Genetic Testing + Abortion = ???.

]]> By: livsparents http://www.blisstree.com/articles/responses-to-nytimes-article-on-down-syndrome/comment-page-1/#comment-534511 livsparents Sun, 13 May 2007 13:01:16 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/responses-to-nytimes-article-on-down-syndrome/#comment-534511 So, why not a genetic test for obesity? Many medical problems? Check. Social undesireability and outcasting? Check. It comes back to pro choice, so why should autism and downs be considered so heinous (sp?) as to need to be erradicated? That William Motley should really check his Nazi Party card at the door: "Fighting Down syndrome with prenatal screening does not “border on eugenics.” It is a “search and destroy mission” on the disease, not on a category of citizens." I guess it's survival (and procreation) of the fittest, with the likes of the almighty 'him' as the arbitor. I'm glad that compassion (or lack thereof) is not genetic... So, why not a genetic test for obesity? Many medical problems? Check. Social undesireability and outcasting? Check. It comes back to pro choice, so why should autism and downs be considered so heinous (sp?) as to need to be erradicated?

That William Motley should really check his Nazi Party card at the door:
“Fighting Down syndrome with prenatal screening does not “border on eugenics.” It is a “search and destroy mission” on the disease, not on a category of citizens.”
I guess it’s survival (and procreation) of the fittest, with the likes of the almighty ‘him’ as the arbitor.
I’m glad that compassion (or lack thereof) is not genetic…

]]> By: Kathy http://www.blisstree.com/articles/responses-to-nytimes-article-on-down-syndrome/comment-page-1/#comment-534507 Kathy Sun, 13 May 2007 10:57:08 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/responses-to-nytimes-article-on-down-syndrome/#comment-534507 I know my sister-in-law Cassie(who has Downs Syndrome) is perfect. She is perfectly happy. She is perfectly capable. She is the perfect life of the party. She is the perfect companion. She is the perfect daughter. To us, her family, she is perfect in every way. Who has the right to say that she is not perfect? After all, what IS perfect? Cassie brings Joy to her family. Who.. Tell me who.. has the right to say otherwise eh? We are all special in the eyes of God! I know my sister-in-law Cassie(who has Downs Syndrome) is perfect.

She is perfectly happy.
She is perfectly capable.
She is the perfect life of the party.
She is the perfect companion.
She is the perfect daughter.

To us, her family, she is perfect in every way.

Who has the right to say that she is not perfect?

After all, what IS perfect?

Cassie brings Joy to her family.

Who.. Tell me who.. has the right to say otherwise eh?

We are all special in the eyes of God!

]]> By: Mary (MPJ) http://www.blisstree.com/articles/responses-to-nytimes-article-on-down-syndrome/comment-page-1/#comment-534487 Mary (MPJ) Sun, 13 May 2007 05:08:37 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/responses-to-nytimes-article-on-down-syndrome/#comment-534487 None of this is simple. I have two children, a son with autism and an neurotypical daughter. I love my son more than anything, more than life. He has enriched my life and helped me learn things about myself and the world I could never have imagined. But I have also had an abortion, when I became pregnant while using an IUD. And the knowledge that my chances of having a child with autism were higher than those of other people did play a part in that decision. And I might not have made the same decision (even if the chances of having a child with autism were the same) if I had two NT children, rather than one NT and one with autism -- I would have had more to give to that third child. I don't think that means I love my son less because he has autism, I think it means I love him more. I did something wrenchingly hard in order to be and give more to him. Yes, I think the world lose out if there are no more children with disabilities. But I also know it takes more time, more money, and more physical and emotional resources to raise my son than my daughter. So, do I blame anyone (including myself) for not wanting to take on that challenge, even knowing what rewards it holds? No, not at all. None of this is simple. I have two children, a son with autism and an neurotypical daughter. I love my son more than anything, more than life. He has enriched my life and helped me learn things about myself and the world I could never have imagined.

But I have also had an abortion, when I became pregnant while using an IUD. And the knowledge that my chances of having a child with autism were higher than those of other people did play a part in that decision. And I might not have made the same decision (even if the chances of having a child with autism were the same) if I had two NT children, rather than one NT and one with autism — I would have had more to give to that third child. I don’t think that means I love my son less because he has autism, I think it means I love him more. I did something wrenchingly hard in order to be and give more to him.

Yes, I think the world lose out if there are no more children with disabilities. But I also know it takes more time, more money, and more physical and emotional resources to raise my son than my daughter. So, do I blame anyone (including myself) for not wanting to take on that challenge, even knowing what rewards it holds? No, not at all.

]]> By: Em http://www.blisstree.com/articles/responses-to-nytimes-article-on-down-syndrome/comment-page-1/#comment-534473 Em Sun, 13 May 2007 03:06:10 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/responses-to-nytimes-article-on-down-syndrome/#comment-534473 The other day we were discussing a similar matter to this in my philosophy class and it truly grieves me to know that there might someday be prenatal tests for all sorts of conditions (and ones that aren't necessarily harmful... or can at least be coped with!) and that life might be terminated on the account of this. I would imagine it grieves the parents who try to have children and cannot much more than it grieves me. If a parent doesn't want to raise a kid, there are plenty of people who would be glad to take a child into their care, special needs or not. -Em The other day we were discussing a similar matter to this in my philosophy class and it truly grieves me to know that there might someday be prenatal tests for all sorts of conditions (and ones that aren’t necessarily harmful… or can at least be coped with!) and that life might be terminated on the account of this.

I would imagine it grieves the parents who try to have children and cannot much more than it grieves me. If a parent doesn’t want to raise a kid, there are plenty of people who would be glad to take a child into their care, special needs or not.

-Em

]]> By: Cyndy Aleo-Carreira http://www.blisstree.com/articles/responses-to-nytimes-article-on-down-syndrome/comment-page-1/#comment-534472 Cyndy Aleo-Carreira Sun, 13 May 2007 02:44:29 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/responses-to-nytimes-article-on-down-syndrome/#comment-534472 I have to shake my head when I read these reponses. And don't get me wrong; I'm very much pro-choice. But at what point are we going to realize that giving birth to a perfect child isn't a right or a given? Having children is a crapshoot, no other way to put it. And this is such a frighteningly slippery slope. I was talking to a childless friend who thought it was okay to terminated much as these folks suggest. But where does it stop? Allergies? Asthma? Astigmatism? Obesity? Green eyes? You get what you are given. If you aren't ready to accept that, then maybe you should try a pet store. I have to shake my head when I read these reponses. And don’t get me wrong; I’m very much pro-choice. But at what point are we going to realize that giving birth to a perfect child isn’t a right or a given?

Having children is a crapshoot, no other way to put it. And this is such a frighteningly slippery slope. I was talking to a childless friend who thought it was okay to terminated much as these folks suggest. But where does it stop? Allergies? Asthma? Astigmatism? Obesity? Green eyes?

You get what you are given. If you aren’t ready to accept that, then maybe you should try a pet store.

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