tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48729937240659966002024-02-28T23:26:03.103-08:00Oz SquadThe Oz Squad is an elite group of active, compassionate bloggers dedicated to educating the public about Down syndrome.DownTownDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09668864798163599209noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-7251076857075620592012-10-01T07:19:00.000-07:002012-10-01T07:42:36.671-07:00Ann Coulter, It's Time to ApologizeThrowing around the word “retarded” to denigrate people you disagree with politically is not a Liberal thing or a Conservative thing, a Right or a Left thing, it is simply a bad thing. And Ann Coulter should know better.<br /><br />
But evidently she doesn’t know better because on Sept. 26th Ms. Coulter tweeted, "Been busy, but is Obama STILL talking about that video? I had no idea how crucial the retarded vote is in this election."<br /><br />
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8173/8043470635_a8332928ee.jpg" width="400" alt="ac"><br /><br />
This isn’t a just a gaffe or a poor choice of words... it is blatant disrespect for an entire group of people who, through no fault of their own, are mentally delayed. <br /><br />
This is the sort of insult that prompted the left-leaning media to demand to know why there have not been apologies made to Sarah Palin for jokes about her son Trig. On FOX, the rants about hypocrisy have been flying, and the demands for an apology have not stopped.<br /><br />
Wayne Brady did apologize on Comedy Central for his inappropriate and rude joke about Trig Palin. And when Obama made his Special Olympics joke on the Jay Leno show, there was an outcry from the public and the President did the right thing by calling Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver to apologize. <br /><br />
It’s Ann Coulter’s turn to give a public apology to the mentally disabled and to those who care about them. It is her turn to acknowledge that the use of the slur “retarded” is crass and unacceptable in all situations. It is time for Ann Coulter to <a href="http://www.r-word.org/" target="blank">make the pledge to stop using the demeaning R-word</a>. <br /><br />
Please join in the effort to educate Ann Coulter on how important it is to show respect for all groups of people. Tell her how it feels to have someone you love used as totem for frustration and disgust. She can be reached on twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/AnnCoulter" target="blank">@AnnCoulter</a>.
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Though her website does not have a contact email, you can email the hosts of the shows she regularly appears on and tell them to call her out and ask for an apology from her:
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<a href="http://www.hannity.com/contact" target="blank">Sean Hannity</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/oreilly/index.html" target="blank">The O’Reilly Factor</a> (oreilly@foxnews.com)<br />
<a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/29041920/ns/today-today_participate/t/email-today/#.UGmfgVHU18E" target="blank">The Today Show</a> <br />
<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3271346&cat=Good%20Morning%20America" target="blank">
Good Morning America</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.glennbeck.com/content/radio/" target="blank">The Glenn Beck Show</a> (me@glennbeck.com)<br />OS Novemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766679413611129958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-50351155349196679552010-08-20T19:09:00.000-07:002010-08-20T19:38:37.695-07:00Friend?Hello everyone,<br /><br />By now, most of you are aware of Jennifer Aniston's recent use of the word "retard" during a publicity tour for her latest crummy movie (sorry, I know that's a cheap shot but I couldn't help it). If you haven't seen her finest moment yet, <a href="http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/19/backlash-brewing-over-aniston-using-r-word/">here's the video.</a><br /><br />Unfortunately, this kind of thing happens all too frequently. I know that Jennifer Aniston does not hate people with disabilities and did not deliberately intend to offend the disability community. However, her slip-up hints at the fact that she throws this word around casually. And that does offend me, and that does offend a whole lot of other people. And I bet it really offends the people at the <a href="http://www.liliclairefoundation.org/Home%20Page">Lili Claire Foundation</a>. This foundation, based in Santa Monica, is dedicated to providing support services for families of children with disabilities. This foundation also lists Jennifer Aniston as an <a href="http://www.liliclairefoundation.org/Board">Honorary Board Member</a>.<br /><br />One of Oz Squad's members has asked for our help in writing to the Lili Claire Foundation and asking that Jennifer be removed from the board. And that's harsh - that's really harsh - and I have gone back and forth all day about this. But ultimately I have decided that anyone who was truly committed to helping disabled children would not casually use the R word on national television. Anyone who was truly committed to these children would have surely stricken this word from her vocabulary long ago. But not Jennifer Aniston.<br /><br />I think sometimes a little slip-up like that has big consequences, and in this case, I think we should voice our displeasure and ask that she step down from the board. You can contact the Lili Claire Foundation <a href="http://www.liliclairefoundation.org/Contact%20Us">here</a>.DownTownDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09668864798163599209noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-41495655984711720812010-05-02T03:49:00.000-07:002010-05-02T04:00:29.913-07:00Daily EmeraldI want to bring everyone's attention to a column written in the Oregon Daily Emerald:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dailyemerald.com/opinion/watching-words-is-a-lost-cause-1.1436130">Watching Words is a Lost Cause</a><br /><br />Columnist Thomas Kyle-Milward's views on hate speech run counter to everything our group stands for. I think it's likely that he has never had any real experience being the target of a slur (although I am just assuming, here). But he writes like a person who views this whole pesky language problem as a very abstract and minor bother. He writes to tell us that we should just accept the reality that language changes over time, that words like retard aren't meant to personally offend us, and that instead of trying to change things we should devote our energy to something more worthwhile.<br /><br />I hope everyone will take a few moments to leave a comment on his column. <br /><br />Thanks for the tip, Jennifer.DownTownDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09668864798163599209noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-4473615201012479572010-03-21T04:07:00.000-07:002010-03-21T04:35:54.308-07:00FitardedI was recently alerted to an unfortunate slogan used by members of a gym in Hollywood: "Fitarded." They print it on t-shirts and wear them proudly at competitions. Here's how they define the word on their web site:<br /><br />1. So extremely fit that even trying to comprehend some of the feats of athleticism will make you feel retarded.<br />2. So athletically fit that other athletes look slow and/or challenged in comparison.<br />EXAMPLE: <br />1.Fortunate for nobody ninjas are so fitarded that even gymnasts can’t even flip out as hard as them.<br />2. That guy is really fitarded. He can pretty much do anything.<br /><br />So eloquently stated.<br /><br />I received this alert from a person who was competing at an event with people who were wearing this shirt. His email to me was so well written, I'm going to reprint part of it here so you can see exactly how it made him feel. I can't say it any better myself:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">My wife was very upset when she saw the group of people wearing the shirts that said "fitarded." I tried to explain to her that they probably did not mean any harm, nor were they intending to belittle individuals with disabilities. As the day went by, I could not help but glance over to this group of people and see if this "title" that they labeled themselves with had any meaning to them. Sure enough I witnessed a young man acting as if he had a disability and stating that he was "fitarded." <br /><br />I am sure the young man did not even realize that only two tents down from his was a young little girl with down syndrome that happens to be my daughter. Myself along with the other members of my CrossFit gym have embraced my daughter as family and were saddened by this display of immaturity and lack of respect for people with down syndrome and special needs. <br /><br />The young man, along with CrossFit Hollywood, have made a complete mockery of people with special needs and have disgraced the CrossFit community by their lack of judgment. Until now, I felt as if the CrossFit community was a group of people that held themselves to higher standards always striving to be the best, while looking out for the best interests of every individual, regardless of race, creed, fitness level, disabilities, inabilities, etc. I never thought that something of this nature would come out of, what I believe, is an elite group of people.<br /><br />I know that there are people with down syndrome and other special needs that use CrossFit as their day excercise regiment, and I do not want CrossFit's reputation of excellence in fitness and athletics to be destroyed because of one gym's ignorance. <br /><br />I hope that the Oz Squad will handle this accordingly.</span><br /><br />I think Oz Squad can tackle this one by leaving some comments. <a href="http://crossfithollywood.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/fitarded-definition/">Click here</a> to visit the gym's blog and see their definition of "fitarded." Notice the "comments" section waiting at the bottom with open arms.<br /><br />Crossfit Hollywood is a franchise of CrossFit Inc. They are based in Washington, D.C., and may have no idea what this particular affiliate is doing. So we can alert the parent company as well. Here's their contact information:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.crossfit.com/">CrossFit Inc</a><br />1250 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.<br />Suite 200<br />Washington, DC 20036<br />202-449-8533<br /><br />Email: customerservice@crossfit.comDownTownDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09668864798163599209noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-40002944813500810592010-03-12T05:11:00.000-08:002010-03-12T05:15:15.107-08:00Twisted “More Alike” PostersMany of you have already been informed that the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) has temporarily removed the poster gallery for their More Alike Than Different campaign due to malicious activity. This campaign allowed parents to upload pictures of their children and make their own personally meaningful More Alike Than Different poster.<br /> <br />NDSC decided to remove the gallery when they became aware that people were downloading the posters, modifying them (changing the headlines, text, graphics), and reposting them in online forums. The resulting images are hurtful and hateful. We see this as a violation unlike others we have posted on OS. This group of people is using images of our own children to poke fun at people with Ds, and to demean them.<br /><br />We have been in contact with NDSC and know that they are researching legal avenues, in addition to other avenues, to rectify this. The hope is that the forum will remove the images. <br /><br />In the meantime, we can <a href="http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3275943&userid=0&perpage=40&pagenumber=1">visit the online forum</a> and send emails to the forum administrator asking the content be removed. Be aware that this particular online forum requires users to register (and pay $9.95) before they can post comments. That means that without paying to combat this, our best avenue to make an impact is by emailing the forum administrators:<br /><br />angerbot@somethingawful.com<br />docevil@somethingawful.com<br />elpintogrande@somethingawful.com<br />fistgrrl@somethingawful.com<br />garbageday@somethingawful.com<br />livestock@somethingawful.com<br />ozma@somethingawful.com<br />thefinn@somethingawful.comOS Novemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766679413611129958noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-53422570817825472532010-02-16T07:43:00.000-08:002010-02-18T06:21:11.794-08:00Dear Sarah,You are fortunate to have a platform from which you can advocate and educate our society about Down syndrome (and all intellectual and physical disabilities). As you well know, when you post something on Facebook, the whole world hears about it. <br /><br />That is why we—a group of parents of children just like your youngest child—are asking you to strengthen your position on the pejorative use of the word "retarded". It is important that you understand the connection we see between the insult and Trig so that you are better able to articulate our position on this issue. <br /><br />Everybody knows and agrees that the word "retarded" used in a clinical setting defines a group of individuals as having limited cognitive abilities. In this respect, the term carries similar effects as racial or sexual orientation categorizations, in that it invokes a specific class of individuals with immutable characteristics. <br /><br />But what not everybody seems to realize is that the current, common definitions of the word "retarded" as stupid, wrong, ineffective... the catch-all for anything that is annoyingly deficient, are steeped in our cultural view of people with mental retardation. <br /><br />So whether one is using the term as an insult or to raise laughs through satire, the speaker is tapping into our common cultural understanding and belief that people with mental retardation are characterized by those negative definitions listed above. The speaker references a group of individuals defined solely by their cognitive limitations, denying them their individual personalities, and by extension their essential humanity. He agrees that this group is inferior and worthy of our scorn. This use of the word "retarded" has become so deeply ingrained in our society that the user probably doesn’t even realize that he has done this. <br /><br />Many people, when called out on their use of the word, insist that they meant no harm to the mentally retarded community, that their use of the word had nothing to do with this minority group. These people must be made aware that there is no separating the insult/joke from its basis for understanding it. <br /><br />No one believes that Rahm Emanuel or Rush Limbaugh thought that they were insulting those with true mental retardation when they called people whose ideas they objected to "retarded." But we do believe that both men were making the point that their targets' ideas were of so little merit that they deserve to be grouped with an undesirable category of people. Both the direct target of the insult, and the class of people it refers to, are indisputably demeaned by such a slur. You cannot have one without the other. <br /><br />Put a simpler way, if people with mental retardation were generally well-respected and thought highly of, the insult "retarded" would not exist. <br /><br />Having the government remove the term retarded from the books, and having the medical community change the diagnosis terminology to "a person with intellectual disabilities," is not enough to eradicate the insult. The public must be made aware of how the insult relates to and hurts an entire group of people. This is not a word police PC thing, rather it is a matter of common decency. <br /><br />Some argue that the insult "retarded" will simply be replaced by another word that is just as hurtful to the intellectually disabled community. But just because some group of the population will always turn clinical or descriptive terms into epithets does not mean that we should condone it. Such a standard would condone the use of virtually any racial, ethnic, or sexual orientation slur. <br /><br />Sarah, we are asking you to take advantage of teachable moments by calling people out on using terms that systematically demean specific groups. If you are going to fight for what you believe in, and you believe in Trig and all those like him, then you cannot give anybody a pass on this issue. Whether used as an insult or a joke, coming from a Republican or Democrat, it cannot be tolerated. <br /><br />If you stand up on this issue and speak clearly about the relationship between the word and our children, real change can happen. It will become less and less acceptable to use this entire group of innocent people as the butt of jokes and insults. <br /><br />We thank you for taking the time to read this letter and look forward to your continued support on this issue. <br /><br />Oz Squad November <br />Oz Squad Alpha<br /><br />Please view the comments to see the rest of our signaturesOS Novemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766679413611129958noreply@blogger.com102tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-10150694974125819222010-02-04T05:54:00.000-08:002010-02-04T06:00:06.067-08:00FalloutFallout from the Rahm Emanuel slur continues to percolate across the Web. Here's a few more related articles that were recently brought to my attention. Comment away:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.usnews.com/blogs/john-farrell/2010/02/02/sarah-palin-embraces-retarded-political-correctness.html ">Sarah Palin Embraces 'Retarded' Political Correctness</a><br /><br /><a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/02/02/the-morning-news-oscar-nominees-other-peacocks-and-520">The Morning News: Oscar Nominees, Other Peacocks, 520, and DADT</a>DownTownDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09668864798163599209noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-67634682261009751222010-01-29T11:04:00.000-08:002010-01-29T11:34:06.951-08:00Black BookIt is not often you come across a writer for an arts and culture style magazine who gets all excited about using the term, “fucking retarded.” But Foster Kamer in his article titled, <a href="http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/the-blackbook-advocacy-in-defense-of-retarded/15481">In Defense of Retarded</a>, does just that. <br /><br />In fact he ends his ridiculous diatribe with this paragraph, “I hereby advocate for Rahm Emmanuel, his rhetorical skills and the designation “fucking retarded.” We will do our best to carry this advocacy out in our usage henceforth. Anybody who has anything to argue to the contrary is, by definition, a fucking retard.”<br /><br />Foster’s logic is faulty and his presentation is mean and extremely rude. Here's a guy who thinks that calling things he doesn't like "fucking retarded" is a joke that mentally retarded people should be able to "take" in order to be considered equal in our culture.<br /><br />Let’s stop by and let him (and <a href="http://www.blackbookmag.com/contact" target="blank">BlackBook</a>) know he’s out of line, way out.OS Novemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766679413611129958noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-31653815496758099312009-12-14T14:24:00.001-08:002010-01-29T11:23:59.131-08:00Impact<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:small;">Hi everyone,<div><br /></div><div>I know it may look like nothing much is happening with Oz Squad lately, but that's not exactly the case. And what IS happening is really interesting. </div><div><br /></div><div>What's happening is that Oz Squad members are emailing me suggestions for missions. The past few suggested targets have been small fish - just random bloggers - but their posts have been extremely offensive. So offensive, in fact, that I haven't really even wanted to subject Oz Squad members to the pain of reading them. It's sometimes hard to determine if a target like that is really worth it. Are we just fanning the flames by posting comments on a small blog? Can we make a difference? Are we elevating a person of no real consequence by reading/targeting his blog?</div><div><br /></div><div>So, here's what has happened the past few times I have been directed to a site like that. November and I have visited the site, done a little background research on the author, and posted a few initial comments. We've really just been feeling out the target, seeing if an official CTA would be helpful. But with those initial emails, we have had some amazing results. </div><div><br /></div><div>November and I have found that those bloggers were willing to pull their posts once they realized how offensive they were. Some have even sent apologies. It has happened more than once. So, before we even had a chance to launch a mission, the mission was over.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for the suggestions, and please keep sending them whenever possible. And remember that Oz Squad is having a real impact, even though it's not always obvious.</div></span>OzSquadAlphahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06050611989407636606noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-76299601099661138142009-11-21T20:06:00.000-08:002009-11-21T20:07:56.817-08:00Our Fragile EmissaryWith modern screening and such<br />they wonder why<br />you're here, on this earth<br />in our home<br />and in our arms,<br />after all, anyone<br />with any sense would have resolved<br />this problem of you<br />pre-birth, pre pain.<br /><br />Blonde Beauty,<br />tiny as you are,<br />you catch their stares,<br />strangers' second glances<br />into tender baby blues.<br />And your young<br />sweet ears hear whisperings<br />("Down's," "defects")<br />words dropped loosely<br />at extra-chromosomed girls.<br /><br />With such stinging receptions<br />how we long to shelter you,<br />surround you; keep your<br />gentle smiles to ourselves.<br />Instead, we hold you<br />up, for others to see;<br />let you, our fragile emissary<br />speak to an imperfect world.<br /><br />Written by Nancy Tupper LingOS Novemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766679413611129958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-72854878132672744552009-11-10T07:45:00.000-08:002009-11-12T10:51:49.276-08:00Mission 6: The Tard Supper<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2XZvtsmNkvg497EZ0oMGSRxjoDY1yLO0XEopjalYKhFVQr4YXspLbHUbIvYlQpYYI3lxfjhX5caHdwlW2W7YkScPKvvXa-kIBZkAVJhQBbiFHgXu2XJ1D4-_6A2eaF_qLX7I2n7oXwg/s1600-h/LastSupperDsfinal.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 109px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2XZvtsmNkvg497EZ0oMGSRxjoDY1yLO0XEopjalYKhFVQr4YXspLbHUbIvYlQpYYI3lxfjhX5caHdwlW2W7YkScPKvvXa-kIBZkAVJhQBbiFHgXu2XJ1D4-_6A2eaF_qLX7I2n7oXwg/s400/LastSupperDsfinal.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403291657867801218" /></a><br />Dan Savage just published a blog post about a painting by Russian artist Raoef Mamedov. This painting recreates the Last Supper, replacing Christ and his disciples with people who have Down syndrome. I'm not sure what the artist has in mind with this particular piece. It's beautifully rendered, and it's obviously open to interpretation. From my perspective, it's everything good art should be. I think it shows people with Down syndrome in a very beautiful light. I dunno, maybe other people just look at it and laugh at the "retards." Or maybe it's a hit piece on Christians. Like I said - it's open to interpretation.<br /><br />Anyway, my problem is not with the artwork, it's with the headline Dan Savage chose for it. The Tard Supper. Ah Dan, so eloquent. For those of you who don't know, Dan is a nationally syndicated, openly-gay sex columnist. I happen to be a big fan of his column, because he is incredibly smart, interesting and witty. But surely Dan, of all people, should know what it feels like to be dismissed by hateful and hurtful labels. So I won't give him a pass as he mocks the mentally challenged.<br /><br />Oz Squad members - please <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/11/09/the-tard-supper">visit this link</a> to see the post for yourself. Dan could benefit from hearing our comments. He should change the headline and write an apology, and that's what we all need to ask him to do.<br /><br />For more information on the artist, here's an excerpt I pulled from a press packet. It explains some of his technique/motivation.<br /><br />Moscow-based Mamedov utilizes the process of film direction by collaborating with a painter, photographer, computer technician, and actors to produce extrasensory photographs. Though the scenes viewed in the final works are complex with multiple players, each actor is separately photographed with Mamedov directing the actors’ emotions and providing the vision for the subsequent digitization and computer placement. Adding a strange conceptual twist, his “actors” range from institutionalized mental patients to individuals with Down Syndrome enabling him to utilize the true abilities of the actors’ minds as an art medium that heighten the pieces’ cultural connections and meanings.<br /><br />Mamedov tackles the Bible and foundations of Christianity with straight adaptations of historical masterpieces by Nicolai Ge, Leonardo da Vinci, and Jan van Eyck. The featured works depict scenes from the New Testament played by actors with Down Syndrome. In portraying biblical characters, elements of the actors’ real-time fragmented state of mind and their tendency to think in quotations highlights the humanism of those portrayed personalities. Mamedov relates the state of his actors’ minds to Satori, a Zen Buddhist notion meaning sudden enlightenment or a flash of sudden awareness. This notion of a flash of consciousness elevates the visual impact of the art as an essentially pure communication of the acted message.<br /><br />Want more? <a href="http://www.brucesilverstein.com/documents/489365b6b258e.pdf">Find the full packet here.</a><br /><br /><br />Thanks to Oz Squad member Melissa for the alert!DownTownDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09668864798163599209noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-52837559346618898922009-10-14T14:09:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:21:41.898-07:00What’s In a Number?Some people, like a certain washed-up, no-longer-licensed-to-practice OB, like to throw around a big number, THE big number... 92%. That’s right 92% of women with a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome abort their babies. That’s some majority.<br /><br />Only 8% of women who know they are carrying a baby with Down syndrome choose not to terminate. <br /><br />But that number, 8%, really isn’t an accurate representation of the percentage of women who are open to the idea of giving birth to a baby with Down syndrome. You see there are a whole bunch of women that decline various types of testing because test results indicating Ds will not alter their plans to have their baby.<br /><br />I was one of them and I know of many others.<br /> <br />We can assume that if by some fluke they had been prenatally diagnosed, the majority of them would have chosen to continue their pregnancies. These women should be counted as knowingly, willingly, perhaps even welcomingly (made that one up) choosing to give birth to a child with Ds rather than abort it.<br /><br />If these women were counted what would that do to the 92% number? Would it drop to 90, 85, 80, or even lower? There’s only one way to find out... Ladies, stand up and be counted.<br /><br /><strong>Take the Poll</strong><br />Over in the right column is a poll question that asks...If (and only if) you had an after delivery diagnosis of Down syndrome, please indicate the level of prenatal testing you received during your pregnancy. (If you had non-invasive testing and followed up with the CVS or an amnio that returned incorrect results, please select the CVS/amnio option). Also, an ultrasound, while a nice view of the baby, only counts as a test if you did the 20-week 3D check-for-Ds ultrasound or any other 3D ultrasound that was specifically performed to look for Ds markers.<br /><br />Written by ds.mamaOS Novemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766679413611129958noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-82901456111770137662009-10-06T06:30:00.000-07:002009-10-06T06:35:03.229-07:00Seeing the Possibility in Bridget<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhdegPtTI-OZqBJphR_iPIuu3USYPL3r_pc-B9OQTjkxpC9urFxJ_7Dz6UmtHYKlQY0CLsVIJRSC_FF9H6lOSPrlYhlYJLiSB84b5oRofU7KKI_rsGQkJOHCTesB_jEIuKGXl6GIKM8Fm/s1600-h/Bridgetpub.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhdegPtTI-OZqBJphR_iPIuu3USYPL3r_pc-B9OQTjkxpC9urFxJ_7Dz6UmtHYKlQY0CLsVIJRSC_FF9H6lOSPrlYhlYJLiSB84b5oRofU7KKI_rsGQkJOHCTesB_jEIuKGXl6GIKM8Fm/s200/Bridgetpub.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389479185636487794" /></a>Three years ago, our family was sitting in a hospital room with heavy hearts, looking at a beautiful little girl in a tiny bed and wondering what challenges she would face.<br /><br />When Bridget was a newborn, we learned about Down syndrome through what we read or were told by others. As Bridget has grown, she’s shown us all far more about herself—as well as Down syndrome, and what it’s like to live with a disability—than any textbook or person could have.<br /><br />Bridget does not see herself as challenged. She is just a kid—being and doing. Like everyone else, Bridget has her own set of skills and challenges. Like everyone else, she is also full of dimension and potential.<br /><br />Today, Bridget is a happy, healthy and secure three-year-old who continues to reach milestones on her own terms. She’s growing, learning new things, making friends and developing and a strong sense of herself. She is taking her first steps toward independence.<br /><br />A few weeks ago, I helped Bridget climb up the stairs onto a school bus for her first day of preschool in our local school system. She is thriving.<br /><br />Bridget is aware and energetic, with the whole world ahead of her. And although we are excited to see what’s in store for Bridget, we are not in a hurry to see where she’s going or even how she will get there. With a little extra support, she’ll make her way. And we will enjoy the journey right along with her.<br /><br />Bridget is opening hearts and minds daily. She's showing others that all people have abilities, and that our human value is not based on our achievements.<br /><br />We realize that we won’t know all of Bridget’s capabilities unless we give her the chance to learn, to build relationships, to be part of the community and to live her own life in her own unique way.<br /><br />A friend once said that when you’ve seen the light in someone the world may reject—a person who doesn’t fit the mold of what society says is perfect, successful or beautiful—then you begin to see that light everywhere. We understand that clearly now.<br /><br />Bridget is interesting and funny and talented, all in her own right. She deserves the chance to make her own way in this world.<br /><br />We’ve learned to never underestimate Bridget. What we know now is that she is not only capable of far more than most people would think, but also that she is a joyful, important, contributing member of our family and of the community who makes life brighter for all of us.<br /><br />Given encouragement and opportunity, the world is full of possibilities for Bridget--<em>and for the rest of us</em>.<br /><br />Written by Lisa of <a href="http://bridgets-light.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Bridget's Light</a>OS Novemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766679413611129958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-4011773690157502892009-10-02T07:09:00.000-07:002009-10-02T07:12:38.599-07:00Orchid<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21T3Pz13xrfoPyyira-qbmyJFRZRkKy1dH5shmw3Hr7ZMMH1oJbjX5K5_TOHeHvNhvvqVD44D9MAx3Kv_o-W7oLrUxoGvlydplevUY4Z6mE1MoEMe_yb9P0kwWcZ4wNT1Oel1e4WigHzV/s1600-h/orchid_burgundy.bmp"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21T3Pz13xrfoPyyira-qbmyJFRZRkKy1dH5shmw3Hr7ZMMH1oJbjX5K5_TOHeHvNhvvqVD44D9MAx3Kv_o-W7oLrUxoGvlydplevUY4Z6mE1MoEMe_yb9P0kwWcZ4wNT1Oel1e4WigHzV/s320/orchid_burgundy.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388004857806246354" /></a><br /><br />Unlike our wild boy weeds<br />who shall grow strong<br />and burst into golden buds<br />with or without,<br /><br />You, beautiful child,<br />are the exotic orchid<br />whose delicate blossoms<br />must be coaxed into bloom<br />by dappled sunlight.<br /><br />You, exquisite child,<br />rooted in enriched soil,<br />watered with joyful kisses,<br />pruned by love’s touch,<br />will flower enchantingly.<br /><br />You, precious child,<br />are the sweet fragrance<br />that delights our senses<br />and pollinates adoration<br />in this family’s garden.<br /><br />(Orchid photo by <a href="http://www.orchidworks.com/" target="blank">Greg Allikas</a>, used with permission)<br /><br />Written by <a href="http://theunknowncontributor.blogspot.com/" target="blank">TUC</a>OS Novemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766679413611129958noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-60024705400510609722009-09-29T09:22:00.000-07:002009-10-06T06:35:54.443-07:00Excuses, ExcusesTen years ago a close friend of mine came to me when she was 18 weeks pregnant and explained that her child had Down syndrome and that she and her husband had decided to abort it. She told me that the doctor said it would be a financial burden on the family and that it was unfair to their other three children. <br /><br />I felt really bad for them and never gave much thought to their reasoning. <br /><br />She delivered her dead child, held him and had photos taken, named him something angelic, and then had him cremated and put in a fancy urn. He took his place on the mantle above the hearth in their formal livingroom. Occasionally it would come up that they’d “lost” their son, though we all knew where he was. They went on to have two more typical boys and are just now wrapping up an ugly divorce.<br /> <br />I know all the excuses for why you might throw away your baby with Down syndrome. I have heard them all because I told myself each one of them after I got my prenatal dx of Down syndrome. This time it was my life, my child, my duty to give thought to the reasons why.<br /><br />1. <span style="font-style:italic;">A life of suffering... I wouldn’t do that to my child</span>. Yeah, me neither. Guess what? It is not a life of suffering. People with Down syndrome do not inherently suffer. I thought about the people I had known in my life that had Down syndrome. I couldn’t pinpoint any real suffering. They love, laugh, learn, and spend their days being generally peaceful.<br /> <br />2. <span style="font-style:italic;">All those medical problems... what kind of life is that?</span> I read the long all-inclusive list of medical problems that children with Ds might have. I researched and found that while it is true that certain medical conditions are more common in people with Down syndrome than in the general population, that doesn’t mean that most people with Ds have ongoing medical problems. Some children with Ds will face congenital medical challenges, the biggie being cardiac defects. <br /><br />My baby had a major cardiac defect and I was scared. But a fetal cardiologist explained that my child (like most children with Ds who have cardiac issues) had a very common defect that could be completely repaired in early infancy. Is heart surgery scary? Of course it is for the parents and loved ones but it is also just a 5 to 7 day hospital stay with over a 90% complete success rate.<br /><br />Bottom line? Almost all infants with Ds who are born with congenital defects get a fix within the first year of life and from then on face only the basic bugs and boo boos of childhood like all other children.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-style:italic;">It isn’t fair to our other children</span>. What isn’t fair? The “extra attention” my little Henry might get from an early intervention specialist? That my Johnny might have to hear a nasty neighborhood kid call his little brother a disparaging name? Seriously? This is a reason to end my baby’s life?<br /><br />I have another good friend who has a little brother (grown up now) with Down syndrome. In the 14 years I have known her she has never even hinted that she was unhappy about him or that she felt that it was unfair to her in anyway. In fact, she always spoke of him and treated him with love. She once told me that she didn’t even know growing up that he was considered moderate to severely mentally delayed until she read some of his paperwork years later.<br /><br />The reality is that she experienced unconditional sibling love and she saw her brother work hard and consistently to achieve milestones.<br /><br />Is it possible that my Johnny may experience some rough times concerning his sibling with Ds? Yes, of course but I found that there are lots of sibling support programs that can help him grow through those times. <br /><br />4. <span style="font-style:italic;">Who will take care of this person when I die?</span> I agonized over this one. I didn’t know that because of early intervention and medical advances, it is expected that kids born today with Down syndrome will live independently with minor support. I didn’t know that I could set up a special needs trust (funded by life insurance) that could provide whatever my son needed. <br /><br />Eventually I decided that I just had to trust that my child would grow up to have friends, family, neighbors, and various paid staff that would care enough about him to provide any support he might end up needing.<br /><br />5. <span style="font-style:italic;">People with Down syndrome have short (50-60) year life spans... how can I knowingly give birth to a child I will most likely outlive</span>? Ok, this one came and then went rather quickly as soon as I considered the alternative, “Should I end my baby’s life so that it doesn’t have a short life..?”<br /><br />6. <span style="font-style:italic;">This child will be a financial hardship on our family.</span> I remembered what my friend had been told by her doctor. We are not rich people. I got nervous. So I looked into what exactly was going to cost so much more for this child. Housing, clothing, diapers, food... none of this would cost more. Health care? A deductible is a deductible and a co-pay is a co-pay, Down syndrome wasn’t going to change those numbers much. <br /><br />Are there people whose insurance companies will deny coverage for a pre-existing condition who cannot get their child covered under Federal Medicaid? Maybe, but we are not them. Would I have aborted if we were one of them? Would I let one of my other children die if they were stricken with a life-threatening illness or accident for fear of medical bills?<br /><br />7. <span style="font-style:italic;">Is it fair to have a child that will likely use more resources than it can produce?</span> I come from a long line of working, tax-paying people. I have family members who have fought in wars to protect your freedom and lifestyle and that of our children. I (and my many childless friends) contribute to my and your typical children’s educations in the form of school taxes. My husband and I, and our family, and our friends have more than paid my son’s debt to society.<br /><br />But even if that were not the case, should poor, non-land-owning people abort their children because they are a drain on our society’s resources? If you answered yes to this question, you have more to whine about than a few babies born with Down syndrome.<br /><br />8. <span style="font-style:italic;">My child won’t have a normal life</span>. What the heck is a “normal” life? I figured I hadn’t lived a normal life and I am no worse for wear... Now I know that if normal means to walk, talk, read, attend school, have friends, play sports, fight with siblings, grow into a responsible adult with the possibility of attending college and getting married, then my son is experiencing a normal life.<br /><br />For a while I wanted one or more of these excuses to feel justifiable and good but none would give me the peace I needed. So my husband and I decided that Henry would live. I do not judge my friend who came to a different conclusion. But I do feel sad for her. She once confided to me that it hurts her to see my beautiful son. She has an urn and I have a lovely child full of life and laughter. And this child of mine, he blows away every excuse in the book.<br /><br />Why do I care that you should know this? Because someday you might be hearing these excuses in an up close and personal way.<br /><br />Written by November who was motivated by Tara (and I even plagarized her a bit)OS Novemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766679413611129958noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-4703070969570423792009-09-21T19:33:00.000-07:002009-09-22T03:47:06.108-07:00The Skeptical OB (Part 2)Open letter to Dr. Amy Tuteur:<br /><br />You have now posted two inflammatory and misguided commentaries about Down syndrome. The first was hurtful, and the Ds community told you so. Your second post, however, is enraging. Because instead of giving an inch and apologizing for your ignorance, you have chosen to rub salt in the wound. So I am now prepared to hand your ass to you, publicly. Start thinking about whether you want it in paper or plastic.<br /><br />First, allow me to definitively answer the question posed by the headline of your initial post.<br /><br />Yes, we should lament the disappearance of Down Syndrome. Because not lamenting it would speak volumes about the state of morality. Down syndrome is a random mutation - it can't be prevented with a vitamin or vaccine. Therefore, the absence of people with Down syndrome means one thing and one thing only: they have been identified as having Ds and, for their crime, denied the right to exist.<br /><br />It's true - snuffing out Down syndrome would eliminate mountains of sadness and oceans of tears. But it would also eliminate a lot of the things that make life memorable and joyous and SPECIAL (pun intended) for many people. It would eliminate countless acts of courage and kindness. Sweet smiles of innocence. It would eliminate a lot of songs and paintings and poems. It would eliminate tears of joy.<br /><br />Amy Tuteur, you took a particularly provocative shot across the bow of the Ds community, and you were called out for it. You may be tempted to dismiss the heartfelt comments on your blog as the ramblings of a bunch of extremists or religious fanatics. And you would be wrong. They are the war cries of compassionate, intelligent, outspoken people - people of differing backgrounds and beliefs - who feel that they are being spoken FOR instead of listened TO by a person who should know better.<br /><br />And now, allow me to address your second post. You have decided to defend your ignorance by speaking, once again, for the Ds community. Your defense? We parents simply must feel that anyone who disagrees with us - anyone who chooses to abort her Ds baby - is wrong. But those are your words, not ours. You have either misinterpreted the reason for our anger, or you are purposely misrepresenting our position. And I refuse to be your straw man. So I'll clarify things for you. <br /><br />The people who commented on your initial post aren't against prenatal testing. Most of us aren't even asking to take away other people's right to abortions. But we know something that you don't know. We know what it feels like to live through the darkest days imaginable. We know real fear and real pain. We know how it feels to be handed a future different from the one we imagined, and to search - frantically - for accurate information about that future. We all went through this process, and we are passionate about making it as easy as possible for others who may embark on the same journey. And instead of telling those people, in their most vulnerable moment, that they are about to be forever burdened with a child who shouldn't even exist, we are here to tell them that many, many, many people have walked this path and found it to be a wonderful road indeed. It's not all doom and gloom. It's difficult, but it's not the end of the world. It can be quite beautiful.<br /><br />Our stories deserve to be heard. They are credible and worthwhile and IMPORTANT! How dare you brush us aside as if we are all delusional! How dare you act as if the world would be a better place without our children! Do you really think we're just going to sit silently as you shovel that shit?<br /><br />You are, quite simply, out of your league here. Your original post isn't well thought out, your attempts to defend it are twisted, half-baked and increasingly desperate. It's obvious to your readers, and it's obvious to you, whether you want to admit it or not.<br /><br />Some of the comments aimed at you are harsh. I'll admit some are rude, some are a bit offensive. But I'll look past that, because those comments are a reaction to your own low blows, which are crafted to conjure a special kind of pain. I'm awestruck that you would leave such snarky comments right out in the open for all to see. I hope your children are proud of their mom as they sit and stare, slack-jawed, at your cruelty.<br /><br />In closing, I want to pose a question of my own. On what day were you halved like a melon so your humanity could be scooped out and rinsed away? And I wonder what I was doing that day? Hmm, maybe I was back in college, working my part time job in the kitchen of the local retirement home. Serving food to the Alzheimer's ward. Maybe that's where I learned to have compassion for people - even those people who need assistance from the rest of us. ESPECIALLY those people. <br /><br />Maybe you should have taken a job like that one.<br /><br />Eh - this is starting to get a little melodramatic, even for me, so let's just wrap things up. At this point, I don't want an apology. I just want you to crawl back into your hole and try your hardest to leave the Ds community unmolested in the future. Pretty please. You do that, and I'll try my hardest to forget all about you and your blog and your amazing intellect.<br /><br />Dan Niblock (Down With Oz)DownTownDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09668864798163599209noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-75721129143877256942009-09-18T07:16:00.000-07:002009-09-18T07:35:30.315-07:00The Skeptical OBThese days, after the passing of the “Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act”, one would expect an OBGYN to present a fair and accurate representation of the future possibilities of children born with Down syndrome.<br /><br /><a href="http://skepticalob.blogspot.com/2009/09/should-we-lament-disappearance-of-down.html">Dr. Amy, The Skeptical OB</a>, does not do this. Instead she discounts that raising a child with Ds can be an enriching experience and states that it is a "lifelong burden". She goes on to say that, “Raising a child with a serious genetic anomaly is a major burden, one that never ends and one that often gets harder as the years go by.”<br /><br />When parents commented on her post saying that this is not true, she insists their opinions are simply personal experience not applicable to the overall view of Down syndrome. Ironically, Dr. Amy is NOT speaking from experience and is just regurgitating stereotypes.<br /><br />Her one-sided attitudes are inappropriate given her position as an “OBGYN”... <a href="http://skepticalob.blogspot.com/2009/09/should-we-lament-disappearance-of-down.html">Go visit</a> and see what you think.OS Novemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766679413611129958noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-84657793134953218752009-09-13T10:49:00.001-07:002009-09-13T10:52:01.720-07:00Just A Normal Guy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHR7-9Gq4x8AmMC8fH7pZHouKnBLEfkez4YePpH4KclKqbv8ymNAsR54Z_ei7wmfpl3EjX5Vt378K9iJJdu4jXoVCQcodYzeY7qfGRX9djsVznUZ0rvcuMgj7cwfPoHyxqXAdKgTTrbh8/s1600-h/ozbabies.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHR7-9Gq4x8AmMC8fH7pZHouKnBLEfkez4YePpH4KclKqbv8ymNAsR54Z_ei7wmfpl3EjX5Vt378K9iJJdu4jXoVCQcodYzeY7qfGRX9djsVznUZ0rvcuMgj7cwfPoHyxqXAdKgTTrbh8/s320/ozbabies.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381010672424883474" /></a><br /><br />I'm just a normal guy. Just your everyday, average, long-haired Eagle Scout. Must be a million guys just like me. You know, straight guys who hate sports, have a passion for typography, color and design, and who have a collection of custom, handmade knives? And who love the Muppet Show?<br /><br />My son Ozzie, he's not normal. Not according to the standard rubric. Mind you, he doesn't know. From his perspective, looking through those big, beautiful almond eyes, I imagine he feels quite normal. I'm not sure how I'll ever even explain the concept to him, and I hate that I have to do it at all. But he will likely have questions for me some day, questions about why he isn't quite like others. And I hope, when that time comes, I have figured out an answer.<br /><br />Honestly, I'm growing tired of the whole concept of normal.<br /><br />Normal - the pursuit of normal - is a fool's errand, anyway. We all think we want normal, but when we have it, we want something else. Something different. That's why people wear jewelry and customize motorcycles and avoid tourist traps and tweak their orders at restaurants. Quite often, normal isn't very interesting.<br /><br />And normal is in the eye of the beholder. What's normal in Zimbabwe isn't normal in Iceland isn't normal in Australia isn't normal in Utah. There's a guy who walks around the street in front of my office every day wearing a giant hat with flowers on it and mismatched, striped socks. It's funny to imagine him waking up in the morning, slipping on those socks, plopping that stupid hat on his head - it's a routine that must seem very normal to him by now.<br /><br />You really want normal? Really? Fine, you can have normal. Crank the Beatles in your Camry while you drive to the ice cream shop to have a vanilla ice cream cone (not a waffle cone or a sugar cone, just one of those normal, tasteless ones). While you're having your treat, you can think about how much you dislike Tiny Tim, flying saucers, stilettos, David Lynch movies, Antarctica, Pop Rocks, llamas, Pac Man, April Fool's Day, Pluto, the pyramids, mohawks, white tigers, extreme sports, Japanese robots and Leonardo da Vinci.<br /><br />Me and Oz, we'll be having mint chocolate chip.<br /><br />You know, I once drove hundreds of miles out the way just so I could make a left turn in Albuquerque (note: if you don't get that, you didn't watch much Bugs Bunny). I realize that was not normal. But somehow, even as my iPod shuffles through Italian rock music, Britney Spears, and the Wu-Tang Clan, my life - my life with Oz – feels perfectly normal to me.<br /><br />Written by Dan, father to Layla and OzzieOS Novemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766679413611129958noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-3730333594165051172009-09-10T12:46:00.000-07:002009-09-10T12:55:01.915-07:00Mission 5: A Tasteless Google AdI want you to do something for me. Do a <a href="http://www.google.com/" target="blank">Google</a> search right now for "Down syndrome." Now check the ads that you see on the results page. My guess is that one of those ads - perhaps the top spot - is taken by a clinic offering third trimester abortions. I don't want to use the name of the clinic, because I don't want to give them any free publicity, but it rhymes with "Ace" Medical Care.<br /><br />I'm painting a big bull's-eye on this ad. I would like to see it disappear. I don't care if someone sees it when they search "abortion," but people don't need to see it when they search "Down syndrome.' It's another example of a culture of normalization, a culture that repeatedly sends the message that it's okay to abort these babies. Some mothers will choose this route, and that's their choice. But I don't want this message broadcast to a woman who has just learned that her baby may have an extra chromosome. A terrified woman sitting alone, late at night at the glow of her computer, desperately searching for info about a condition she never really thought about. That woman does not need to see that ad at that time. It's disgusting.<br /><br />I don't really know how to get rid of this ad. We could all write the clinic and ask that it be removed, but my guess is an abortion clinic has dealt with people more determined - and more vicious - than Oz Squad. I'm guessing we won't get far with that route. We could email Google. Again, Google may have no interest in deciding what ads to accept. We could all click the shit out of that ad every day. Run up the bill - those types of ads are paid for per click. However, there's a possibility that "Ace" Medical Care could petition Google to check the ip addresses of the clicks and get a refund. I'm not sure they can do that, but it's possible.<br /><br />Does anyone have any other ideas? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?OS Novemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766679413611129958noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-38633134497013520642009-09-08T15:39:00.000-07:002009-09-08T15:47:18.981-07:00A New View<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3g8acaDchZSUdkkwhBQC8mX6zcgL0sFtbD4s5jYGb36vzY4dhErI7zyLb8My-TEZlS1aMc697MHeVqIQsjXmdZLSq7IBRL_RvzzRaxfwVDgbGI_II-pjHrvtvdZW_VTxur-BKA1ezYBri/s1600-h/Papa-and-daughter.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3g8acaDchZSUdkkwhBQC8mX6zcgL0sFtbD4s5jYGb36vzY4dhErI7zyLb8My-TEZlS1aMc697MHeVqIQsjXmdZLSq7IBRL_RvzzRaxfwVDgbGI_II-pjHrvtvdZW_VTxur-BKA1ezYBri/s320/Papa-and-daughter.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379231675093101538" /></a><br />My little Sydney just turned two last month and my idea of normal has changed over the last two years. I got a prenatal diagnosis, so I knew ahead of time that Sydney would have Down syndrome. I remember the first thing I wanted was to talk to another parent of a child with Ds who also had additional children. I remember thinking… I want to know how “normal” my life was going to be, not how much it was going to change.<br /><br />I was pleasantly surprised when I was connected to a family who had two beautiful girls, each was the same age as one of my boys. (Sydney was still cooking). We met for lunch and I watched my boys interact with her two girls, the youngest with Ds and I was put at ease. They were both just little girls. Even though their 3 year old daughter with Ds didn’t speak words yet, she understood what was going on around her and played and interacted just fine with my boys and her sister. That was all I needed.<br /><br />Has my life changed since the birth of Sydney? Everyone on this OZ Squad knows that yes, indeed it did change. Would I change it? No, not at all. I have already learned so much about life and love that I would never change. Did I have fears and doubt when I was awaiting the birth of Sydney, absolutely I did, but she was designed to be exactly as she is, and I am blessed to be her mommy. Even when she is an ornery two year old… just like all her two year old friends. <br /><br />Jeanette, mother to Zachary, Anthony, and SydneyOS Novemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766679413611129958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-90869264976418570762009-08-28T17:42:00.000-07:002009-08-30T08:16:30.662-07:00Mission 4: Health Checks NowThis mission was brought to Oz Squad's attention by squad member Monica. Monica spotted a few poorly-worded articles about Down syndrome on a health info site called healthchecksnow. The articles aren't intentionally or overtly offensive, but they do contain statements that some may find offensive and over-generalized. Several OS members posted comments with thoughtful suggestions about how the articles could be rewritten to make them more accurate and sensitive. If anyone else would like to read the articles and respond with comments of your own, here are a few links:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.healthchecksnow.com/what-is-down-syndrome/#comment-2930">What is Down Syndrome?</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.healthchecksnow.com/the-face-of-down-syndrome-physical-characteristics/">The Face of Down Syndrome: Physical Characteristics</a><br /><br />This is a great example of how Oz Squad can serve as an Internet watchdog. Changing a few phrases on a site like this one may not seem like it makes much of a difference. But there's a lot of bad info online. A poorly chosen word, an old statistic, a negative tone in what should be a neutral article – these are things that matter. They can subconsciously affect people's attitudes toward people with Down syndrome. They can have subtle influences on a doctor's choice of words at a critical time. They can perpetuate myths and stereotypes. They can make life a little bit harder for every one of us.<br /><br />So when you spot something like this, please take a few moments and send a comment to the author. If that doesn't help, let us know about it. We can work together to educate the public, clean up these frustrating little problems, and make the world a little bit brighter for our kids.<br /><br />Thanks again, Monica!DownTownDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09668864798163599209noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-52211134110725729422009-08-19T04:31:00.000-07:002009-08-19T04:35:23.504-07:00Tech TipA few people have let me know that they are not receiving Oz Squad emails. I'm guessing this could be related to the fact that we have lots of people on our email list, and our emails are getting tagged as spam. The solution? Check your spam folder and look for Oz Squad emails. If you see them, mark them as "not junk mail" or "safe sender" or whatever your particular email service uses. That should take care of the problem.DownTownDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09668864798163599209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-42302364559456975722009-08-17T21:08:00.000-07:002009-08-17T21:15:05.070-07:00Mission 3: Shame on Wikia.com - Updatesannse, of Wikia's technical support team, has emailed me to say that Uncyclopedia.com has decided to remove the offending page. Thanks to all of you who went after this one.OS Novemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766679413611129958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-53734234790661132532009-08-16T08:27:00.000-07:002009-08-16T08:50:32.400-07:00Mission 3: Shame on Wikia.comWikia.com is the parent of several wiki websites (sites that use wiki software to enable collaborative content development) including a wiki called uncyclopedia.wikia.com and this website hosts a page titled, <a href="http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/HowTo:Get_Downs_Syndrome" target="blank">HowTo:Get Downs Syndrome</a>. <br /><br />(Warning: wait 45 minutes after eating before going to read this page. Otherwise, you will puke.)<br /><br />I realize that since this is a wiki, any one of us, and everyone of us, can go there and alter this horrific content, however, I wanted to have it removed the polite way. So I contacted <a href="http://help.wikia.com/wiki/Special:Contact" target="blank">wikia.com</a> and explained that having a web page that encourages abducting, torturing, and raping (and killing... that’s the part under the blackout) individuals with Down syndrome is highly inappropriate, and um... even illegal, and certainly in violation of the wikia <a href="http://www.wikia.com/wiki/Wikia:Terms_of_use" target="blank">terms of use</a>. <br /><br />Their response? An unconvincing definition of dark humor for my edification... Here is an excerpt: <br />“The humor is often dark, mocking, satirical, and sometimes offensive. But, at its best, it can also be very funny as well as thought provoking and enlightening, giving a new twist to an old subject.”<br /><br />I am guessing that sannse, the tech team responder to my complaint, did not actually read the page because you just can’t connect what is sitting on that page to anything “funny, thought provoking, and enlightening.” <br /><br />sannse wrapped up with a suggestion to contact the Uncyclopedia folks with this caveat... “But please be aware that Uncyclopedia is not often amenable to removing articles due to offense alone and the atmosphere of mockery can often carry over into discussions.” Yeah, thanks for the warning and the brush off, sannse.<br /><br />So guys, visit wikia’s <a href="http://help.wikia.com/wiki/Special:Contact" target="blank">special contact page</a> and let them know that their condonation of the Uncyclopedia - <a href="http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/HowTo:Get_Downs_Syndrome" target="blank">HowTo:Get Downs Syndrome web page</a> is intolerable. If you have other ideas for taking down this garbage, post them in the comments or, ahem, covertly do what you must.OS Novemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766679413611129958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4872993724065996600.post-40369294566566344172009-08-15T09:48:00.000-07:002009-08-16T08:50:01.399-07:00Don’t Tell Me I Can’tDon’t tell me I can’t<br />when I’ve already proven to so many that I can and have<br /><br />Don’t tell me I shouldn’t be here<br />when so many people would not have learned the things that I have taught them<br /><br />Don’t tell me I have no value<br />when I have given so much joy, laughter, and love to so many<br /><br />Don’t tell me I’m different<br />when everyone in the world is their own unique person<br /><br />Don’t tell me how to live my life<br />when there are so many possibilities for me to try<br /><br />I <span style="font-style:italic;">can </span>do things!<br />I was put here on this earth because of my <span style="font-style:italic;">value </span>and <span style="font-style:italic;">difference</span><br />Possibly to even teach <span style="font-weight:bold;">you </span>how to live a better life<br /><br />written by Suzie Smith of <a href="http://www.lilyslifeisgreat.com/" target="blank">Lily's Life Is Great</a><br />(posted with permission)OS Novemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766679413611129958noreply@blogger.com0