I had reason to refer to a column of mine, published a few years ago, called "My Daughter's Paradoxical Genes." It addresses the paradox of the ACOG recommendation that all women be offered prenatal testing for Down syndrome, but a separate ACOG ethics committee condemns the use of prenatal testing for sex selective abortion. The column remains one of my favorites, and the paradox still has yet to be explained by ACOG. You can read the full article at this link. Continue Reading
March 7, 2013
How to deliver a Down syndrome diagnosis?
With the advances in prenatal testing and guidelines recommending prenatal testing be offered to all expectant mothers, more Down syndrome diagnoses are being delivered than ever before. But how should a Down syndrome diagnosis be delivered? Fortunately, there is a very helpful resource that is also a professional guideline by those who should know best. Continue Reading
March 6, 2013
“What you call people is how you treat them”: the significance of the r-word campaign
Today is the day to raise awareness about the R-word campaign, led by Special Olympics and Best Buddies. You can sign the pledge here to make "retard" and "retarded" go the way of the "N-word" and become the "r-word." It is a significant campaign, even if some consider it mere semantics or political correctness. Continue Reading
March 3, 2013
Down syndrome and the 2013 Oscars
While Daniel Day-Lewis did not deliver the message I hoped for, I learned of another connection one of the winners had with Down syndrome, and I had no idea it was so close. Continue Reading
March 1, 2013
Lower termination rate = higher terminations?
Today, at a column at Amy Julia Becker's blog, I explain how the math works out to explain the headline and the graphic for this post. I hope you will visit her blog and my column at this link. Continue Reading
February 27, 2013
The need for care and support
This past weekend was the Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action conference. Consistent with past years, the schedule featured sharing sessions and breakouts on best practices for medical outreach and new and expectant parent support. With the advances being made in prenatal testing and research showing that the need for care and support is a key factor for expectant mothers making a decision following a prenatal diagnosis, this information is needed now more than ever. Continue Reading
February 20, 2013
What is a legacy?
In this post-modern, existential age, it can cause some to wonder what's the point of anything. How can we say anything we do truly matters? Well, on Monday, we said goodbye to a lady whose actions many families would say mattered to them. Continue Reading
February 19, 2013
What do you say when you hear the “R-word”?
Recently, my wife and I went out for a nice evening. That was the intention, at least. Then, at dinner, we overheard from our neighboring table the "r-word." I wonder, what do you say when you hear the "r-word"? Continue Reading
Comments due on UK inquiry into abortion for disability
The United Kingdom's Parliament is re-examining the Abortion Act of 1967, specifically Ground E which permits abortion at any time on the basis of disability. Comments are due tomorrow, March 6, 2013, by 12 pm, EST. Read on for the link and how to receive a template for your comment. Continue Reading