tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.comments2023-12-05T05:37:23.788-05:00Down Syndrome UprisingPsychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-69134137694873038502013-12-04T09:46:09.605-05:002013-12-04T09:46:09.605-05:00Oh sorry I wasn't quicker! I saw this as I was...Oh sorry I wasn't quicker! I saw this as I was going to bed last night.(I'm ahead of you guys remember). Was going to link The Significance of the Birthday Party Invite: http://www.downssideup.com/2012/04/significance-of-birthday-party-invite.htmlDowns Side Uphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12806066168756340802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-80145420063400972122013-10-31T14:35:37.467-04:002013-10-31T14:35:37.467-04:00I am not a special parent and my kids are not spec...I am not a special parent and my kids are not special kids. Juli, my oldest, has brown hair, is extremely tall for her age and extremely outspoken. Luci, my youngest, also has brown hair, is very short for her age and reserved. They are both loved immensely. <br />When Juli was born we got a lot of ooohhhhs and aaaahhhhs and were told that she was perfectly adorable and healthy. When Luci was born, we got a book filled with everything that could go wrong. This was my first aha moment (also the first time I felt like choking someone).<br />I could have gotten such a book with the oldest one, after all, there is also a number for her probabilities of having leukemia, heart problems, hearing problems, eye problems, etc. But I didn't. I only got the useless and scary book with Luci. It was then, a single day after she was born, that I knew, she will be viewed as a "type", not a little girl by many and that this would be one of her lifelong challenges. I did not get a glimpse into what would be some of my older daughters' lifelong battles until much later. But I always knew she would have to struggle with something.<br /><br />Struggles, challenges, heartbreak, disappointment, happiness, love, satisfaction, enjoyment - all part of the human condition. Humanity does not discriminate. It does not matter who you are, what your genetic make up is, where you were born, your religion or gender. The minute you are born you have a journey ahead of you filled with pretty much the same metaphysical stuff. <br /><br />So yes, I cringe when I read stuff about what makes children with T21 so wonderful or terrible. I cringe when I read how you have to know them. I cringe every. time. It is hard for me to understand what is trying to be accomplished by awareness. I do not care who accepts or does not accept either of my girls, but I will be damned if I allow for their right to access opportunities to be any different.<br /><br />I see a future for my girls that is very similar where it matters. They will both be loved, stimulated, nurtured and supported. They will each face challenges, deal with heartbreak and disappointment. They will both be misjudged and misrepresented. They will both have to fight. And I will fight right next to them and we may get knocked down a bit, but we will kick ass!Proud Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10287612172804017539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-60571428307551932802013-10-17T23:07:37.462-04:002013-10-17T23:07:37.462-04:00Thank you for this! Thank you! Effectively aimed a...Thank you for this! Thank you! Effectively aimed anger can be a powerful thing - and please know that you are not alone...<br /><br />LeahAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-64565908039756133572013-10-17T22:38:22.498-04:002013-10-17T22:38:22.498-04:00Love LOVE this!!
LeahLove LOVE this!! <br /><br />LeahAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-66515160773701554932013-10-08T13:42:22.869-04:002013-10-08T13:42:22.869-04:00I have only read this one post of yours just now, ...I have only read this one post of yours just now, but you're on my List of Awesome. Not many people are.<br />Signed,<br />An autistic mother of a child with Patau SyndromeMyriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07501735120663777532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-34907657728449913872013-09-03T15:53:24.941-04:002013-09-03T15:53:24.941-04:00I can so see why you're angry, and I am too. I...I can so see why you're angry, and I am too. It i, unforutnately, expected that everyone be happy and complacent. I read an interesting book (in Dutch) about three people being admitted to psychiatric hoppitals for psychosis, and ll of them, in time periods ranging from 1960 to 2003, were only medicated. No attention was paid to the base of their crisis, and they said that more an dmor epeople are medicated into complacency by a society that demands social and individual stability at all cost. This may be a bit off-topic, but I wanted to share this with you in the context of your justified, constructive anger.Astridhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10381016727248405767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-16742631727039960652013-07-29T18:12:00.180-04:002013-07-29T18:12:00.180-04:00If CALEA accredits FCSO their validity as an accre...If CALEA accredits FCSO their validity as an accrediting agency will be worthless. Compare CALEA's guidance for LEA accreditation with FCSO:<br /><br />"CALEA Accreditation requires an agency to develop a comprehensive, well thought out, uniform set of written directives."<br /><br />NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER has been provided that FCSO has ANY written training guidelines. Certainly no guidelines for LE personnel in dealing with people with disability, even though there are industry standard guidance materials that have been in place for NEARLY 20 YEARS. <br /><br />"CALEA Accreditation requires a preparedness program be put in place—so an agency is ready to address natural or man-made unusual occurrences."<br /><br />How does CALEA assess an LEA's suitability for accreditation when THE LEA's OWN DEPUTIES ARE THE ONES WHO CREATED THE UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE?<br /><br />"CALEA Accreditation is a means for developing or improving upon an agency’s relationship with the community."<br /><br />OK, here's one that could be checked for FCSO, an LEA in dire need of improving relationships in the community. <br /><br />"CALEA Accreditation strengthens an agency’s accountability, both within the agency and the community, through a continuum of standards that clearly define authority, performance, and responsibilities."<br /><br />Curiously, this one could also be used in favor of accreditation, since FCSO IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF ACCOUNTABILITY.<br /><br />"Being CALEA Accredited can limit an agency’s liability and risk exposure because it demonstrates that internationally recognized standards for law enforcement have been met, as verified by a team of independent outside CALEA-trained assessors."<br /><br />Assuming CALEA-trained assessors value their reputation, the assessors linked to the FCSO accreditation bid should be backpedaling as fast as possible. <br /><br />"CALEA Accreditation facilitates an agency’s pursuit of professional excellence."<br /><br />A claim by FCSO of professional excellence would be laughable if it were not so very serious. Dribblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11064425613960241712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-49290803031276569772013-07-27T12:23:36.477-04:002013-07-27T12:23:36.477-04:00There are no words today, just tears, many many te...There are no words today, just tears, many many tears. Wordshurtorhealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12039330463065872512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-37583651528973571252013-07-21T11:20:53.051-04:002013-07-21T11:20:53.051-04:00Wonderful post. It was very interesting to learn t...Wonderful post. It was very interesting to learn that there was another princess with Ds... I thought I had the only one ;-)TUChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15929114678006935831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-34355858304645115602013-07-13T13:14:18.011-04:002013-07-13T13:14:18.011-04:00So true about differences, and how the world likes...So true about differences, and how the world likes to put stickers on people and reduce them to only what that sticker says. Hope you're okay ~ I know dipping back into the past can bring back the hurt.<br />A lot of us stood next to you fighting for our kids and your kids and the neighbours cousin and the teachers brother and the best friends daughter too!<br />Take care<br />LucasAbstract Lucashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10396367651843421077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-40313106759773042712013-06-23T09:10:14.759-04:002013-06-23T09:10:14.759-04:00Very well said. Thank you for your encouragement. ...Very well said. Thank you for your encouragement. <br /><br />RebeccaMs. Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00039201050500063533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-19227596247127391792013-06-13T10:10:22.048-04:002013-06-13T10:10:22.048-04:00Done!Done!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07909505715444422594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-91235966261938886532013-06-12T10:27:53.676-04:002013-06-12T10:27:53.676-04:00HOW SAD WE HAVE TO DEMAND ATTENTION TO AN OBVIOUS ...HOW SAD WE HAVE TO DEMAND ATTENTION TO AN OBVIOUS MURDER!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17827343429573911595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-2838586154820741912013-06-11T11:57:46.581-04:002013-06-11T11:57:46.581-04:00Please take note of this petition. To give this ag...Please take note of this petition. To give this agency accreditation at this time would be an abomination on the judicial system, to the family, friends, and advocates of Ethan Saylor. Ethan Saylor was a human being with Down's Syndrome, who had great respect for the police, yet is dead because of them. You will find a link to a video that was made by his sister that shows what a lovable, sweet human being he was. Please watch this before making your final decision:<br /> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umcsYh8OZ4gAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01083712686661810856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-46877792462730680412013-05-08T08:42:29.777-04:002013-05-08T08:42:29.777-04:00not to mention that Cong Van Hollen sits on the Bo...not to mention that Cong Van Hollen sits on the Board of the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus. Andrea Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01717408861899440069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-29953426072253581052013-04-25T11:58:11.476-04:002013-04-25T11:58:11.476-04:00A response from Concerned Dad:
"My take is t...A response from Concerned Dad:<br /><br />"My take is that even if MD has some kind of "new evidence" rule, there's no reason why an investigation by the state AG or some kind of special prosecutor couldn't provide the "new" evidence. Of course, as you point out, the feds can and should act as well. Imagine a scenario where a white guy kills a black guy in an ugly and racially-charged incident, and the local DA, for unstated but obvious racist reasons, declines to charge, and the grand jury (unsurprisingly) fails to indict. Clearly, if the case got high profile enough, some grown-up in state government would eventually step in to clean up the mess--by whatever mechanisms exist in the state to do that--without relying on the feds, even if only for self-interested PR purposes."Down Syndrome Uprisinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14015434768396941866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-80140702935197711422013-04-24T22:24:37.807-04:002013-04-24T22:24:37.807-04:00How does the Maryland grand jury's decision no...How does the Maryland grand jury's decision not to indict the officers on state criminal charges impact this recommendation? Typically, in that situation, indictments are only sought & issued based on new evidence. The independent investigation by the DOJ could provide that new info & the civil rights aspect is what gives the DOJ authority to investigate an otherwise state criminal issue. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10464619236315919417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-41653148921179887242013-04-10T12:40:12.012-04:002013-04-10T12:40:12.012-04:00Thank you for this. Some of those comments were s...Thank you for this. Some of those comments were so hateful.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15314557911335160204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-59491759218608260102013-04-09T22:47:43.766-04:002013-04-09T22:47:43.766-04:00If you have not already done so, also send to the ...If you have not already done so, also send to the public editor, Margaret Sullivan. (email: public@nytimes.com). It is the public editor's job to be an advocate for the readers in bringing complaints to the attention of editors at the paper. She herself does not assign or edit stories, her sole job is to be a reader's representative. Also send this to the letters editor: letters@nytimes.com. It would make a good Letter to the Editor though they would likely trim it down quite a bit. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-62836299923629924902013-04-03T23:40:59.290-04:002013-04-03T23:40:59.290-04:00Another reason I am thankful that I have a child w...Another reason I am thankful that I have a child with Down syndrome. I might still be a person who didn't value everyone the same, simply on the basis that they were a human, rather than my misconceptions. The above article, very well put. I won't use my son with ds as an ambassador, but in the back of my mind, when he is around those folks who had little exposure to ds, I realize that he's teaching them a lesson that they wouldn't have the chance to learn if they hadn't been around him. rebeccainGAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11488475648102249717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-17267183792886647692013-03-28T22:28:00.088-04:002013-03-28T22:28:00.088-04:00Outstanding!!!!!!!!! Thank you Down Syndrome Upris...Outstanding!!!!!!!!! Thank you Down Syndrome Uprising!!!! Let our voices be heard!!! Justice served! Just blogged about it: http://jendawnscowgirlup.blogspot.com/2013/03/jesus-cried-out-for-his-father-robert.htmlJenny Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-14119083153162483702013-03-27T15:49:58.597-04:002013-03-27T15:49:58.597-04:00Action, not reaction.
Where is the challenge to t...Action, not reaction. <br />Where is the challenge to the community to actively support Ds research, as an example, Down syndrome cognitive research, rather than just complaining about the lack of government support for research. Real action is active involvement in raising $$ for research. The Ds community falls way behind, for example, the Autism community, with respect to raising awareness of the promise and importance of Ds cognitive research, which might lead to safe and approved therapies to address intellectual disabilities in Down syndrome as well as the connections between Ds and Alzheimer's disease. Less talk about prom queens and socks, and more positive energy directed to research. Get behind research initiatives.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10439308626773512210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-16010032524253776282013-03-26T13:25:50.085-04:002013-03-26T13:25:50.085-04:00I've started the "March for Ethan" o...I've started the "March for Ethan" on my blog. Here's the link:<br /><br />http://littlebirdsdad.com/2013/03/26/march-for-ethan/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-83973441447282862442013-03-25T09:30:13.421-04:002013-03-25T09:30:13.421-04:00This is so easy to tweet and post on FB!!! This is so easy to tweet and post on FB!!! Wordshurtorhealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12039330463065872512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460552419406225222.post-47171388694329678922013-03-24T21:15:04.948-04:002013-03-24T21:15:04.948-04:00We can right this wrong. We can never bring him ba...We can right this wrong. We can never bring him back but we can express our Respect in this wayWordshurtorhealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12039330463065872512noreply@blogger.com