I mentioned earlier this week that I had an article at Motherlode, the Parenting blog of the New York Times: Deciding Not to Screen for Down Syndrome. Since the article was posted on Tuesday evening, there have been 133 comments that range from supportive of our decisions, opposed to them, and everything in between. If you’re interested in these topics, I recommend scanning the comments to see a wide perspective in point of view on issues related to disability, community, education, ethics, family, and medicine.
What is the cost of having a child with DS, and who bears that cost?
Why do women terminate pregnancies in general? Do they terminate for different reasons with a prenatal diagnosis of DS?
In using language of “perfection” and “imperfection,” what do we mean? Similarly, language of defective, disabled, burdens… Is this language another way to divide “us” and “them”? What constitutes a perfect baby? Does that baby grow up into a perfect adult?
Are individuals with Down syndrome valuable human beings? What do they have to offer?
Is it harder to have a child with Down syndrome than a typical child?
Is it a luxury to have a child with Down syndrome?
What do we know about people with Down syndrome–educational/learning potential, medical advances, social supports, work abilities, independence? We live in a culture that has only included individuals with Down syndrome for a few decades. Does the past determine the future?
Feel free to add your own.
Thanks for reading.
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