What should you do if you are attending the Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action Annual Conference? Continue Reading
February 12, 2013
Two birthdays with competing legacies
Ten score and four years ago today, Abraham Lincoln was born. That same day 204 years ago also was the birthday of Charles Darwin. The competing legacies of these two men twist through history like the spiraling parallel sides of the DNA molecule. Continue Reading
January 9, 2013
An Open Letter to NDSS, NDSC, and GDSF: Answers Still Needed
It has been over 40 days since the open letter to NDSS, NDSC, and GDSF was posted seeking answers to a few questions. Tweets to the organizations and an e-mail to the leadership of each organization with a copy of the open letter provided also were sent. The holidays, understandably, may have interfered with a response being provided. With the start of the new year, just as 2012 began, questions remain as to what the national plan is, and, specifically, the questions asked in the open letter Continue Reading
January 8, 2013
Does it matter if nature has a moral authority?
Spring cleaning suggests that is the season when cleaning gets done. But, as an attorney, the holidays often provide a lull where we can bring some order to the stacks of papers that have accumulated throughout the year. In doing so, I found a study that I read quite some time ago, but is one that I think you will find of note. The article's title is "Women's views on the moral status of nature in the context of prenatal screening decisions," and its authors are Elisa Garcia, Danielle Continue Reading
January 7, 2013
We Know Not What We May Be
During the winter break, I tried spending as much time as possible with my family. I treasure how, at the start of December, the day after we put the Christmas tree up, my daughter came downstairs, threw down both her hands, and, exasperated, said, "Daddy--where are all the presents?!" A recent post by Amy Juila Becker got me thinking about an ancient lesson revealed in this the holiday season. Amy Julia is an author, a blogger, and a mother of three. Her oldest, Penny, happens to have Down Continue Reading
November 28, 2012
An Open Letter to NDSS, NDSC, GDSF on Down syndrome prenatal testing resources
Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GDSF) and the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) recently announced the publication of a pamphlet for patients going through prenatal testing for Down syndrome. It sparked discussion through a blog post by Dr. Brian Skotko, which was soon responded to in a joint press release by GDSF, NDSC, and the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). This is an open letter from concerned parents, professionals, advocates, and Down syndrome (DS) support group leaders who Continue Reading
November 23, 2012
Breaking News: ACOG Issues New Guidelines on NIPT
Since the 1990's, when fragments of cell free fetal DNA (cffDNA) were found in the mother's blood stream, researchers have been on a quest for what is regularly termed "The Holy Grail" of prenatal testing: a diagnostic test from just a mother's blood sample. If the fetal DNA could be identified and tested, then the fetus' genetic code could be diagnosed. Mothers (and practitioners) would be able to receive a diagnosis without risking miscarriage, as must be done with current diagnostic tests, Continue Reading
November 21, 2012
Giving Thanks: For those who get to know those with Down syndrome
Happy Thanksgiving! For those going through prenatal testing for Down syndrome, let us give thanks for those who make the effort to get to know more about Down syndrome. Continue Reading
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