Wednesday, October 15, 2008

OMG!!!! They are talking autism in tonight's debate!!!

Validation for those of us who have the 1 in 150 children afflicted with this disability!!!  Even a brief mention...

I am noting that McCain mentioned it too, but I still dispute the validity of Sarah Palin as an advocate for special needs families.  But I am thrilled McCain brought it up and that Obama shared his ideas too.  

Oooh, I hope that someone puts this on YouTube.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was shocked that mentioned it as well! God Bless you, God got ya sis!

Anonymous said...

Seriously? You question the validity of Sarah Palin as an advocate for special needs families? HOW? She has a child with Downs, you don't think she is going to fight for families with special needs kids? I don't get it. You'll gladly put your vote in Obama's corner, a man who would rather let a child born from a botched abortion (most likely b/c of a diagnosis of downs) lay helpless without any medical intervention and die alone. Do your research and you'll see, he doesn't give a damn about children. He finds children to be burdens. 90% of down syndrome dx's end in abortion. What would happen (and it is likely with the advances in science) if they were able to test for autism prenataly and when a positive dx came the option of aborting the child would be on the table? Obama would be for this, because he wants NO LIMIT'S on abortions. That is sick! It is genocide in the worst way! Even in my most difficult days with a special needs child I could NEVER imagine my life or my families lives without him. Regardless of a child's dx or life expectancy, they are gifts to be cherished not aborted. Obama doesn't care, they are burdens to him.

Rachel said...

Having a special needs child doesn't necessarily make you an advocate. And while I think that a woman is capable of president or vice president, she has an infant who is going is going to need two parents in the next few years. Being VP isn't a 9-5 job, by any stretch of the imagination.

I think abortion is an awful thing, but Sarah Palin is against stem cell research. I think the best hope for my son lies in that very science. (GFCF certainly hasn't been the answer for us!) I think Obama will fund IDEA completely or at least more than Bush has, which will improve the quality of Jimmy's education and his future. How much money could we put into research for the cause and the cure for autism if we had a president who didn't have the financial bottomless pit known as Iraq as a top priority?

I appreciate your feelings, but I can't vote on one issue. I have to vote on my son's future. Stem cell research is a big part of why I can't vote for McCain, as much as I like him and his maverick spirit.

Anonymous said...

You are very right stem cell research is very important and the democrats sure beat the hell out of the republicans during the last election saying how awful they were for not wanting to fund Embryonic stem cell research, but isn't it interesting that it has barely been brought up in this election? That would be because even the researchers are saying that there is NO FUTURE IN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL research and that there is a future and CURES ARE HAPPENING NOW WITH ADULT STEM CELL'S. Republicans have never been against stem cell research, they have been against the use of stem cells taken by killing an embryo, but never against using adult stem cells that don't harm the individual they are taken from.

You are right the VP position isn't a 9-5 job, but I didn't hear about people telling her she should step down as Governor (also not a 9-5 job) when she gave birth to Trig. She has an incredibly supportive husband and extended family that will be right there with her helping to raise Trig. Trig will have MUCH more love and support from his family than most kids do that are shuffled to and from daycare/school while the parents are working and brought home in time for a quick dinner before being shuttled off to bed. It's a double standard to criticize Palin on working while having a young child with special needs, while 20+ years ago Biden was commuting from Deleware to DC as a Senator after his wife and young child's death as a single dad raising his other children. Should he have stepped down from his seat in the Senate and stayed home with his kids?

I would really encourage you to look into the stem cell research and see where all the cures are really coming from. Not hearing much from Michael J. Fox these days begging for embryonic stem cell research money. Time to get on board the adult stem research train! That is where the future cure for autism will be.

Rachel said...

I will look into the stem cell stuff. Knowing the stuff they are doing with cerebral palsy, it gives me such hope for my son and other kids like him.

I am a working mom with a career, but I have made choices. I gave up a job that I loved for one that has more flexibility and time off, at a reduced salary, to be available to my kids. I was lucky that I learned to love what I do, but it is a harder fit than where I was. I think both parents really need to readjust their priorities after a diagnosis, but usually only one parent does it. And yes, it is usually the woman. And it takes a toll. In the autism community, the divorce rate hovers around 80-85%.

For the record, I am not a Biden fan. I was angry when he was selected - I had no idea about his history, but it doesn't surprise. It was not an appropriate choice to make, leaving his kids to be raised likely by someone else. What is they say? The rich are different than you and me...