(no subject)

[judecorp]

Umm... how is it that Sarah Palin understands autism better than most?

Is it because her infant son has Down Syndrome?

WTF?

ETA: Googling mentions something about an autistic nephew?

Comments

[jeney.livejournal.com]

I actually have never seen a picture of him. But like I told Patti on Facebook, if I had a kid with Downs Syndrome (please god no more babies for me!!!), I'd be an expert on every aspect of it by now. Autism included. I do see your point, though. But you know, I like her, so I'm wearing different glasses for this whole thing!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I don't dislike her. I mean, I don't know her - how can I dislike her? She's not my choice of candidate but hey, whatever, it is what it is.

I think you can be an "expert" by doing a lot of research and you can be an "expert" by living - different kinds of knowledge. And while I would hope hope hope that she has done a lot of research on Down Syndrome and trisomies and developmental disabilities and levels of mental retardation and potential comorbidities with DS and resources in her area and all of that, I think she is just at the tip of the iceberg of what she WILL know in 2 years, and 5 years, and 10 years, and 20 years.

Does that make sense? I'm not saying she doesn't know anything about DS, or even about developmental disabilities or special education or children with special needs. But I don't know that I would want my running mate person going on national TV during a debate and painting me as an expert on autism. Because that just opens the door for some smartass like me to want to go and drill her (HA HA GET IT 'DRILL' BOY I'M FUNNY!!) about something like Rett Syndrome.

pardon as I jump in uninvited... ;)

[artemis44.livejournal.com]

I don't know you, but I am sure you would indeed be an expert (or fast on your way to becoming one), just as I would if it were my child. But doing that sort of research and learning takes time - a LOT of time - as you sift through all the various resources and really start to understand the complexities. Do we really think that she's had time to do that since she's been out campaigning 24/7 for vice-president, or before, when she was Governor? I'm sure the taxpayers in Alaska hope not, because if she's been spending every spare minute studying Downs and such, then when has she been governing???

I just don't get that - I don't get how her having a child with Down's Syndrome supposedly grants her some special wisdom, and I don't get how we're supposed to praise her on the one hand for being this great, involved, and expert mom, when she's dragging her special needs kid (along with her pregnant teen) from photo op to photo op instead of sitting at home reading the books and websites and etc. that would actually help her develop this supposed "expertise"

(and yes, I'm voting for "That One", so I'm definitely biased. Oh, that and I'm a queer who doesn't need Sarah's "tolerance", just good old equal rights thank you very much... lol!)

W