Blog For Down Syndrome

“I’m going to look like such a retard”.

I kept quiet.

I was in the office of a social worker recently helping them get setup on Skype and a USB headset. When they put the headset on they said, “I’m going to look like such a retard”.

I was shocked to hear this coming from a licensed social worker and felt my emotions starting to boil. I wanted to call them on it. I wanted to tell them;

But …. I kept quiet.

Here we had an experienced social worker, working for an agency that supports families, children and persons with disabilities. Someone who I would expect would have some sensitivty to a word that is commonly used as an insult. “Retard” or “retarded” is commonly used as an insult in everyday life and in the media, especially among teens and young adults…. and it’s not OK. It hurts and it’s mean.

But … I kept quiet.

My silence helps sustain and perpetuate the negative stereotypes. I make a promise not to let that happen again. No more turning the other cheek. I will take advantage of these situations to voice my opinion and hopefully teach someone that it’s NOT OK.

I WILL NOT BE QUIET ANY LONGER!

Several months ago Matt our dear son, celebrated his fifteen birthday. My husband and I thought long and hard about what to get him for a present. We decided to get him a puppy a puggle. For the most part Molly the puggle has been a great addition to the family. Matt seems to really enjoy his puppy. He is beginning to take more responsibility for her each day, taking her out, picking up her toys, etc. It seems to be helping his social and communication skills.

There are times when the puppy’s endless energy mixed with my teenage son’s energy gets a bit overwhelming. However, all and all I would recoomend the experience.

An op-ed piece recently appeared in the Washington Post. Here is an excerpt that reflects my same feelings.

Here’s my fervent hope: that calls for universal prenatal screening will be joined by an equally strong call for providing comprehensive information to prospective parents, not just about the tests but also about the rich and rewarding lives that are possible with disabilities. If physicians and genetics professionals are willing to learn from people with disabilities and their families, they can disseminate the nuanced, compassionate message at the core of diversity and human rights: All people have value and dignity and are worthy of celebration.

A good article appeared in the NY Times, ‘Just A Normal Girl’.

It tells the stories of developmentally disabled individuals, their families and college staff working to open college classrooms and campuses to cognitively disabled persons. The article is well done in that it doe’snt sugar coat the challenges involved.