Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Secretary Betsy DeVos has drawn stinging criticism for her latest budget proposal for eliminating funding for Special Olympics programs at schools. There is a much larger budget item that would fund those and many other programs that benefit individuals with intellectual disabilities: Medicaid funding for prenatal genetic testing for Down syndrome. Continue Reading
March 27, 2019
Sec. DeVos: Fund Special Olympics (& many other programs) with Cuts to Medicaid for Prenatal Genetic Testing
January 23, 2019
No lie can live forever
James & Juliet crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma, Alabama, January 20, 2019 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. declared that "no lie can live forever." I pray this is true for what some believe about Down syndrome. Continue Reading
July 26, 2018
Gone: Planned Disappearance of Down syndrome
On our trip out west to Yellowstone National Park, we took in so many splendid sights. Then, on the eighth day of travel, I woke up with a sense of dread about what we hadn't seen on our trip. Continue Reading
March 27, 2018
Discriminatory impact of Down syndrome selective abortion
Regularly there are positive news reports raising awareness about what a life with Down syndrome can be. Gerber baby food selected for the first time ever a baby with Down syndrome to be its “Gerber baby.” The re-launched American Idol featured a young man with Down syndrome singing with a contestant. And, 50 moms created a carpool karaoke video with their children with Down syndrome that moved James Corden to tears. But, it has not been all good news reported. Continue Reading
October 30, 2017
The cold, dumb logic of cost-effectiveness justification for prenatal genetic testing
Down syndrome has long been called the "canary in the genetics coalmine." Here's another example of why. Continue Reading
August 29, 2017
Ohio’s Down Syndrome Abortion Bill: Avoiding the Issue
For the second time, an Ohio state representative has introduced a bill to ban abortion when the stated reason is a prenatal test result for Down syndrome. The debate about the bill, and the measure itself, avoid the issue about Down syndrome selective abortion. Continue Reading
August 16, 2017
Persistent challenges: bigotry and ethical prenatal testing
A visit to National Park sites, a presentation to medical professionals in Kansas City, a violent protest in Charlottesville, and a news report out of Iceland all came together in less than a week as a reminder of the persistent challenge of our bigotry against our fellow human beings. Continue Reading
July 27, 2017
Iowa Supreme Court recognizes wrongful birth claim
On June 2, 2017, the Iowa Supreme Court recognized for the first time the claim of "wrongful birth". The Court also recognized that the state legislature may enact legislation barring such claims. Continue Reading
July 7, 2017
Baby Doe Redux, but even worse
In March, parents trusted their doctors with the care for their son with a very rare condition. The doctors have now convinced courts to rule that death is more beneficial for the child than continued treatment. And, the parents can't do anything about it. Continue Reading
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