March 16, 2010
Any parents of children with autism out there surprised by the Republicans sudden interest in our kids?
Category: Autism
Not that I don’t appreciate it, but where have you been for the last eight years? And does anyone know where Sarah Palin’s newfound expertise in autism comes from? Down Syndrome and autism are apples and oranges, and I can promise you, Sarah Palin is never going to have to fight for services for her child.
7 Responses to “Any parents of children with autism out there surprised by the Republicans sudden interest in our kids?”
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March 16th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
I’m not a parent of an autistic child but I had the same question as I watched the debate tonight.
March 16th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
children are the reflection of our society and they must be looked after and must be brought up as the excellent of the day for our future.
March 16th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
My daughter is a special ed teacher who evaluates and implements individual instruction plans at an elementary school. She told me about Obama nearly 2 years ago when she volunteered to work his campaign. Her only goal in life is the betterment of kids who don’t have the same abilities as everyone else. Like she says, you can anyone, but it takes a bit more imagination to break through to some kids. Since she believe in children as much or more than anyone I know, I am following her lead on this.
McCain has adapted his words and campaign to what has been successful for Obama I’ve noticed. After the polls showed huge upticks with Obama’s “change”, McCain decided to become a Maverick, etc. Of course, the GOP wants to cut school spending, it’s always been a party mandate.
March 16th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
I am a Republican and I have been involved with autism for a long time. I have a nephew who is autistic and have many friends who have autistic children. I am from NJ where there seems to be more autism than many places in the US and they are uncertain exactly why.
I am not surprised that Republicans have an interest in this condition as it is something we are all concerned about. I don’t believe the Dems have shown any more interest in it than the Republicans; it is a non-political condition which affects many so I don’t understand why you are saying this.
Autism needs funding for more research and it is becoming more clear than ever because of the increase in the cases.
Sarah Palin has an interest in all children with disabilities. I see that you think that putting her down because her child “only” has Down’s Syndrome makes her unable to understand the problems associated with any other disability and the heartache associated with it. Sarah is fighting for the many who have children with different afflictions, regardless of exactly what they may be.
I find it offensive that you choose to put up some sort of comparison contest about whose heartache is the greater and who has the biggest concern regarding services to be obtained for these children. (Not that you don’t appreciate it, though.) Why not be grateful for those who are bringing up the causes for all of these children regardless of their political affiliation? That would make more sense to me and those who are out working to bring awareness to the entire world of many different and difficult conditions that need funding?? The more people who are made aware, the more they are willing to work towards more effective goals for these children. Because autism is in the rise (and yes, it has become more prevalent in the past 8 years), people everywhere are learning that we need to act now to try and find the cause and the treatment for this debilitating situation. Strides are being made and treatment is coming much earlier with much better results than have taken place in the past. Stand up and fight for the public to be informed and never knock what is being done for the good of these children.
Bluefish: I know the conditions are different, I am just stating that Sarah Palin should not be ridiculed or put down because her child has Downs Syndrome and not autism; I do not understand the anger displayed on the question and answers to this question. They state that Sarah is not an “expert” on autism but Sarah has worked for children with disabilities for a while and she does understand the condition and has a platform which can make people more aware. She is not ONLY working for children with Downs Syndrome but for children with disabilities across the board. I say to stop the “Sarah bashing” and be grateful for any assistance that comes the way of these children. There is no reason to be hateful about it.
March 16th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
My 11 year old son is autistic. I am not impressed with Sarah Palin or her knowledge of autism. I would only consider her an expert on her own son’s disability. It would be arrogant of me to present myself as an expert on Down Syndrome. I consider it arrogant of Sarah Palin to do the same. Republicans are no more interested in this disability than democrats. I’m not so sure how interested most democrats are either, but I have more confidence that democrats will actually FUND the educational services disabled kids need. Early intervention is very costly and republicans consistently want to cut school funding.
McCain thinks that women will relate to Sarah Palin and vote for him. It is an insult to our intelligence to think that women would vote for her because she is a woman. I can think of a whole lot more impressive republican women than her!!! I’lll start my list with Elizabeth Dole, Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Olympia Snowe. Any of them would have made a much better choice for VP than Sarah Palin. I think her choice has been a mistake with the undecided voters.
To “Turkeybr”, nowhere in the question does the poster even imply that Down Syndrome is less of a disability than autism. The idiom “they are apples and oranges” means two things that cannot be compared. It does not imply either is better or worse than the other. For example, heart disease and cancer are two different diseases. They can both be deadly and a person can say, “comparing heart disease and cancer is comparing apples and oranges”. One is no less serious than the other.
EDIT: I stand by what I say. I am NOT ridiculing Sarah Palin. I am criticizing her as I would ANY political candidate. I believe she is genuinely interested in helping children with disabilities. Do I think her political views match that interest? NO. Am I entitled to my view? YES.
As a teacher, public and private, for 17 years, I have worked with children with every common disability. Sarah Palin has nowhere near my experience in education, but I am humble enough to only present myself as having expertize on autism. I will say thank you for any help that is given children with disabilities when that help actually comes their way – I am not impressed by smiles and words.I am impressed by funded programs. Educating people with disabilities is incredibly expensive. Let Sarah Palin describe how she will fund those programs and I will impressed. I haven’t heard those specifics yet, and I’m sure she won’t talk about them. In her defense, she doesn’t know her budget yet, and honestly, her tone will change when she finds out it can cost $50,000 per year to educate a person with severe disabilities.
I am intelligent enough to not make my choice for president based on somebody (Sarah Palin) having a child rearing experience that is similar to mine. While autism is the biggest part of my life, it does not make a country! And yes, I believe any of the other republican women I mentioned would have been better VP picks. Oh well, I am sorry that in your opinion I have to have a stepford wife smile and not question McCain and Palin’s intentions. Questioning our leaders is the American way. Lately that right is only granted to republicans. If it’s good enough for the republicans to call Obama some really horrible names, then I can say Kay Bailey Hutchinson would have been a better VP than Sarah Palin. I am less patriotic for criticizing Sarah Palin – is that your implication? Remember that fascist countries prohibit criticizing their leaders. I do not need to ask the republican party for permission to critique our political candidates. It isn’t hateful to criticize Sarah Palin – that is called our political system – and the elections process. By the way, there is a group of republican women who have come out attacking the choice of Sarah Palin, should they too be silenced? Sounds like it.
March 16th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
What’s the point of working to become rich and powerful if it doesn’t make any difference?
McCain was the one who confused autism and Down Syndrome.
Has anyone run the Characteristics of Adult Children of Alcoholics checklist on the Senator?
I’m thinking of “Lies when the truth would serve.”
March 16th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
I am a person with a disability who is amused (sarcastically speaking of course) by this ‘concern’.
You are right–the two issues are different. And that party has been the one attempting to cut funding and limit support services for people with disabilities.
Having a child with a disability is one thing. But a sincere advocate for people with disabilities would have already recognized that myself and other people do grow up–and vote.
So we ourselves need adequately funded and provided community services being provided in the most appropriate environment for our specific needs.