Palin On Special Needs Children
Sarah Palin, in Pittsburgh this morning, made a commitment to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, known as IDEA:
"One of the most wonderful experiences in this campaign has been to see all the families of children with special needs who come out to rallies and events just like this. We have a bond there. We know that children with special needs inspire a special love. You bring your sons and daughters with you, because you are proud of them, as I am of my son. My little fella sleeps during most of these rallies, even when they get pretty rowdy. He would be amazed to know how many folks come out to see him instead of me."
Her full prepared remarks are available after the jump.
Thank you all very much. I appreciate the hospitality of the people of Pittsburgh, and I'm grateful to all the groups who have joined us here today. The Woodlands Foundation, the Down Syndrome Center at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Autism-link, the Children's Institute of Pittsburgh: Thank you for coming today. And, above all, thank you for the great work you do for the light and love you bring into so many lives.
John McCain and I have talked about the missions he'd like me to focus on should I become vice president, and our nation's energy independence and government reform are among them. But there is another mission that's especially close to my heart, and that is to help families of children with special needs. And today, we'll talk about three policy proposals that are going to help us fulfill our country's commitment to these children: more choices for parents, fully funding IDEA, and efforts to reform and refocus.
Too often, even in our own day, children with special needs have been set apart and excluded. Too often, state and federal laws add to their challenges, instead of removing barriers and opening new paths of opportunity. Too often, they are made to feel that there is no place for them in the life of our country, that they don't count or have nothing to contribute. This attitude is a grave disservice to these beautiful children, to their families, and to our country -- and I will work to change it.
One of the most wonderful experiences in this campaign has been to see all the families of children with special needs who come out to rallies and events just like this. We have a bond there. We know that children with special needs inspire a special love. You bring your sons and daughters with you, because you are proud of them, as I am of my son.
My little fella sleeps during most of these rallies, even when they get pretty rowdy. He would be amazed to know how many folks come out to see him instead of me.
When I learned that Trig would have special needs, honestly, I had to prepare my heart. At first I was scared, and Todd and I had to ask for strength and understanding. I did a lot of praying for that understanding, and strength, and to see purpose.
And what's been confirmed in me is every child has something to contribute to the world, if we give them that chance. You know that there are the world's standards of perfection, and then there are God's, and these are the final measure. Every child is beautiful before God, and dear to Him for their own sake. And the truest measure of any society is how it treats those who are most vulnerable.
As for our baby boy, Trig, for Todd and me he is only more precious because he is vulnerable. In some ways, I think we stand to learn more from him than he does from us. When we hold Trig and care for him, we don't feel scared anymore. We feel blessed.
Of course, many other families are much further along a similar path -- including my best friend who happens to be my sister, Heather, and her 13-year old son Karcher, who has autism. Heather and I have worked on this for over a decade. Heather is an advocate for children with autism in Alaska. And as governor, I've succeeded in securing additional funding and assistance for students with special needs. By 2011, I will have tripled the funding available to these students.
Heather and I have been blessed with a large, strong family network. Our family helps make sure that Trig and Karcher have what they need. But not everyone is lucky enough to have that strong network of support. And the experiences of those millions of Americans point the way to better policy in the care of children with special needs.
One of the most common experiences is the struggle of parents to find the best and earliest care for their children. The law requires our public schools to serve children with special needs, but often the results fall far short of the service they need. Even worse, parents are left with no other options, except for the few families that can afford private instruction or therapy.
Many of you parents here have been through the drill: You sit down with teachers and counselors to work out the IEP -- an individual education plan for your child. The school may be trying its best, but they're overstretched. They may keep telling you that your child is "progressing well," and no extra services are required. They keep telling you that -- but you know better.
You know that your children are not getting all of the help they need, at a time when they need it most. The parents of children with special needs ask themselves every day if they are doing enough, if they are doing right by their sons and daughters. And when our public school system fails to render help and equal opportunity -- and even prevents parents from seeking it elsewhere that is unacceptable.
In a McCain-Palin administration, we will put the educational choices for special needs children in the right hands their parents'. Under reforms that I will lead as vice president, the parents and caretakers of children with physical or mental disabilities will be able to send that boy or girl to the school of their choice -- public or private.
Under our reforms, federal funding for every special needs child will follow that child. Some states have begun to apply this principle already, as in Florida's McKay Scholarship program. That program allows for choices and a quality of education that should be available to parents in every state, for every child with special needs. This process should be uncomplicated, quick, and effective -- because early education can make all the difference. No barriers of bureaucracy should stand in the way of serving children with special needs.
That's why John and I will direct the Department of Education to clarify the statute administratively. We'll make explicit that when state funds are portable, federal funds are fully portable. We're going to make sure parents have choices and children receive the education they deserve.
Even the best public school teacher or administrator cannot rightfully take the place of a parent in making these choices. The schools feel responsible for the education of many children, but a parent alone is responsible for the life of each child. And in the case of parents of children with disabilities, there are enough challenges as it is, and our children will face more than enough closed doors along the way. When our sons and daughters need better education, more specialized training, and more individual attention, the doors of opportunity should be open.
Like John McCain, I am a believer in providing more school choice for families. The responsibility for the welfare of children rests ultimately with mothers and fathers, and the power to choose should be theirs as well. But this larger debate of public policy should not be permitted to hinder the progress of special-needs students. Where their lives, futures, and happiness are at stake, we should have no agenda except to ease the path they are on. And the best way to do that is to give their parents options.
In a McCain-Palin administration, we will also fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. To his great credit, it was President Gerald Ford who signed the legislation that became the IDEA -- establishing new standards of respect and inclusion for young Americans with disabilities. From that day to this, however, the federal government's obligations under the IDEA have not been adequately met. And portions of IDEA funding have actually decreased since 2005.
This is a matter of how we prioritize the money that we spend. We've got a three trillion dollar budget, and Congress spends some 18 billion dollars a year on earmarks for political pet projects. That's more than the shortfall to fully fund the IDEA. And where does a lot of that earmark money end up? It goes to projects having little or nothing to do with the public good -- things like fruit fly research in Paris, France, or a public policy center named for the guy who got the earmark. In our administration, we're going to reform and refocus. We're going to get our federal priorities straight, and fulfill our country's commitment to give every child opportunity and hope in life.
For many parents of children with disabilities, the most valuable thing of all is information. Early identification of a cognitive or other disorder, especially autism, can make a life-changing difference. That's why we're going to strengthen NIH. We're going to work on long-term cures, and in the short-term, we're going to work on giving these families better information.
Once a condition is known, parents need the best and latest information on what to expect and how to respond. This service is also provided for under the IDEA. And we will make sure that every family has a place to go for support and medical guidance. The existing programs and community centers focus on school-age children -- overlooking the need for assistance before school-age.
But it would make a lot more sense for these centers to focus as well on infants and toddlers. This is not only a critical stage for diagnosis; it can also be a crucial time to prepare the family for all that may lie ahead. Families need to know what treatments are most effective, and where they are available, what costs they will face, and where aid can be found, and where they can turn for the advice and support of others in their situation. As Todd and I and Heather know, there's no substitute for the friendship of those who have been where we are now.
The IDEA is also intended to serve teens and young adults with special needs. And here, too, there is an opportunity to reform and extend the reach of federal support under the IDEA. By modernizing a current law, the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, we can better serve students with disabilities in our high schools and community colleges. This will require reform by the states as well. Just as the federal government expects proven results in the progress of other students, we must require results as well in the achievements of students with disabilities. And the result we will expect is simple: that every special-needs student be given a chance to learn the skills to work, and enjoy the freedom to live independently if that is their choice.
As families across America know, the care of special-needs children requires long-term planning, and especially financial planning. A common practice among these families is to establish financial trusts. These are known as special needs trusts, covering years of medical and other costs, and for parents they bring invaluable comfort.
Understandably, then, many families with special-needs children or dependent adults are concerned that our opponent in this election plans to raise taxes on precisely those kinds of financial arrangements. They fear that Senator Obama's tax increase will have serious and harmful consequences -- and they are right. The burden that his plan would impose upon these families is just one more example of how many plans can be disrupted, how many futures can be placed at risk, and how many people can suffer when the power to tax is misused.
Our opponent has an ideological commitment to higher taxes. And though he makes adjustments on his tax plan pronouncements seemingly by the day, his commitment to increase taxes remains the same. John McCain and I have just the opposite commitment. We intend to lower taxes, promote growth, and protect the earnings and savings of American families.
Not long ago, I spent some time at a place in Cleveland called the Michael T. George Center, a beautiful home for adults with Down Syndrome and other disabilities. I met Michael George, too, a boy of five with Down Syndrome. Michael is a healthy, sweet, joy-filled little man -- and I saw in him all the things I wish for Trig in just a few years.
Michael's parents, Tony and Kris George, are advocates for children with special needs in their community. They are thinking far ahead, in their own boy's life and in the lives of others. They named the center after their son. It's a public-private partnership. This welcoming place -- and so many others like it -- shows the good heart of America. They are places of hope. They are the works of people who believe that every life matters, everyone has something to contribute, and every child should have things to look forward to, and achievements to point to with pride and joy. As many of you know better than I, it can be a hard path, and yet all the more joyful and productive when the barriers are overcome.
John McCain and I have a vision in which every child is loved and cherished, and that is the spirit I want to bring to Washington. To the families and caregivers of special-needs children all across this country, I do have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. And I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House.
Thank you all, and God bless you.
Having a daughter with special needs, we are glad that Sarah is pointing out the "stealing" of special needs funding for other programs. We need to honestly fund the IDEA and make certain local districts don't skim the intended funding. In Kalamazoo, the Board of Ed. routinely steals monies from the special needs budget to cover their mismanagement.
My wife and I advocate locally and she hit most all the points we are concerned about in the Autism Community. Locking funding, giving parents more control over decisions, and providing for hitting the problem early and with full resources.
We support her policies as outlined today and hope that if elected will be enacted fully.
The burden on parents with special needs has gone under the radar in this election, we make up part of the silent majority - as almost every person in America has someone affected.
Having a daughter with special needs, we are glad that Sarah is pointing out the "stealing" of special needs funding for other programs. We need to honestly fund the IDEA and make certain local districts don't skim the intended funding. In Kalamazoo, the Board of Ed. routinely steals monies from the special needs budget to cover their mismanagement.
My wife and I advocate locally and she hit most all the points we are concerned about in the Autism Community. Locking funding, giving parents more control over decisions, and providing for hitting the problem early and with full resources.
We support her policies as outlined today and hope that if elected will be enacted fully.
The burden on parents with special needs has gone under the radar in this election, we make up part of the silent majority - as almost every person in America has someone affected.
I find all these promises far too vague and general to mean much of anything. Alaska's wait list for special needs services has not gotten shorter during her tenure as governor, although I will grant that per student $$ has increased. There is more that classroom inclusion at stake here. What about health insurance? Too many of our children have what could be considered 'pre-existing conditions'. The McCain/Palin health care outline would allow insurers to exclude clients based on PECs, while Obama/Biden's plan calls for health coverage for ALL children. My child has cost our insurer 1/2 million dollars so far (2 1/2 years old) -- how far is that $5G going to go? Sorry, I don't need a 'friend' -- I need someone with a plan that does more than 'hope' that 'market forces' will allow me to afford insurance for my child.
This is not a policy speech. It is a cynical ploy to move beyond the bad press she has received for the week. Just two weeks ago McCain/Palin was freezing ALL government spending and now suddenly they are freezing everything but the money for disabled children. In his 26 years has anyone ever head McCain talk about children with disabilities????
This is not a policy speech. It is a cynical ploy to move beyond the bad press she has received for the week. Just two weeks ago McCain/Palin was freezing ALL government spending and now suddenly they are freezing everything but the money for disabled children. In his 26 years has anyone ever head McCain talk about children with disabilities????
At Last, the Possibility of Support at the Highest Level in Government for the needs of Autistic and other Children with Special Needs. I'll VOTE FOR SARAH!!
Everyone wants to fully fund IDEA and beef up the NIH. Obama does, now McCain supposedly does. How that squares with McCain's record of not funding IDEA for the last 26 years, McCain's spending freeze and opposition to new spending for Medicare or other social service programs is another question.
Palin's comment on early services misrepresents the current state of care. Early intervention and support is covered in most states, but only up to age 3. The real problem is the gap between this early intervention, funded as public health, and IDEA services that only apply to school age children. People are trying to do this and get the multiple funding agencies on the same page, but its a state by state issue. Nothing in this plan about that.
Also, parents right now have the right to request their funding under IDEA follow the student if it can be shown the student needs services a private school can provide that the public school can't. Person centered planning and funding are the core tenets of IDEA and the ADA. The problem is that most private schools won't take kids with behavioral issues or special needs, other than a handful of specialty schools set up by a parent only to take kids with special needs. These places are typically far more expensive than anything IDEA would cover, even if fully funded, and focus on therapy rather than academics. They aren't bad but they certainly aren't for everyone.
Finally, I have no clue where she gets the idea that taxation of special needs trusts is a top issue. I have one set up for my son and I'm really not worried about it. The reason its called a special needs trust is because it only allows payment for living expenses to avoid the person with special needs having too many assets to qualify for Medicare. Like most such trusts, the idea is my life insurance and estate will be rolled into the trust if I die before him. The principal of any trust is generally tax exempt (barring estate taxes or you have the weird case of a person gifting a huge amount of cash during their lifetime). The interest is taxed and the trust would file seperately. However since you'd have to generate more than $200,000 in interest income to kick into the Obama enhanced rates, those rates would only apply to the amount over 200k and amount to a 3 percent increase, I'm not sure who could really have a legitimate fear about the tax consequences on such trusts.
It was not just the choice of an idiot for VP, but the lies, the smears, the total lack of honesty who turned me off. Just read this:
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27350530/
They are fabricating assaults, etc. to generate ANGER towards the Obama campaign. I tell you, there is nothing the republicans will stoop to.
It is just amazing... and the worse thing is how low they have set the standards... nobody pays attention anymore when a candidate lies, or flip-flops, etc.
This is just plain disgusting...
It sounds good on the surface but seriously she is only fooling those that don't know the facts. IDEA provides provisions for parents, should they seek Due Process, that would allow them to receive funds which could be used at a private school. The problem is, save for speciality schools, very few private schools provide the services covered under IDEA. Also while Gov. of Alaska she cut funding of Special Education programs by more than 60%. I have a Masters and Doctorate in Special Education so to hear her speak on the issue is laughable. Quit using your son as a reason to tout your "experience" when you know very little about Special Education.
I've now heard and read her speech. Great, we're going to freeze spending, but fully fund IDEA. What happens to other programs in the Domestic Discretionary Budget for that to happen? Pell Grants, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, WIC, clean-energy research, Section 8 housing — dozens and dozens of programs will need to be cut by an average of 6.4%. Yeah.
While she hooked the ticket up to the idea of funding IDEA, there was no strong commitment to it, nor plan proposed for implementing it.
She completely ignored the Community Choice Act (CCA) which would make $$ that is normally spent on institutionalization available for home-based care.
She talked about 'choices' in education (private vs public), but made no mention of any guidelines that would prevent schools from discriminating against our children based on test scores.
As she rightly said "For many parents of children with disabilities, the most valuable thing of all is information." What she totally glossed over, though, is that the information comes through sources her ticket is NOT endorsing: guaranteed medical coverage for all children. Where does most of our early information about our children and their 'condition' come from? Our doctors. Doctors our children won't see without insurance. Therapists that our children won't see without coverage. Visiting nurses that will no longer 'visit' us because our child isn't able to get insurance ('pre-existing' and 'congenital' often are treated the same by insurance companies).
First we have to GET information -- from healthcare providers - and we need insurance for that!! Then, we need to be able to access services - and we need insurance for that!! Am I the only one seeing the disconnect here?
I think the commitment to education is great, really, but what about EI therapies? What about AFTER school is over with? It's all well and good to say "We'll give you a ton of educational choices." but it does me no good if I can't afford medical coverage for a child who may not SURVIVE until school age without OHS; nor does it benefit me, as the parent of a 30 yo who needs day-to-day assistance to know that she 'could have gone to private school.'
Frankly, this speech was a disappointment on many levels. Not the least of which was the underlying assumption that education was the main concern of parents of children w/ special needs. We want them educated, yes - but HEALTHY children learn better than UNhealthy children. It has to be from the bottom up - healthy children learn better. You can't go 'top-down' -- you can't 'teach a child healthy.'
So far, the M/P ticket has not impressed me on this issue.
I have always paid close attention to each and every election since I have had the right to vote. This election by far has taken up more of my time than any other. I have researched all the allegations that each candidate has made against the other. The facts are very important as to the decision I will make in this election. After listening to Sarah Palin speak to the people in Pittsburgh this morning I have to say, are we yet again going to start another project without mastering the first one? A very large percent of our schools across the nation are failing to successfully teach our children now! Regarding the taxes that go into our schools I have two questions: 1. Why do we continue to pay for something that is not working, as a consumer if I buy a product that doesn’t work I may give it a second chance but even I ‘m not stupid enough to buy it for a third, forth or even a fifth time. We need to make some extreme changes in our schools, why do we continue to pay for something that’s not working? 2. How can we start a new education program for the special needs children in this country if we can’t properly educate the children without special needs? It would be a grave injustice to the special needs children who need even more time and care, we don’t need to fail them too! Let’s get back to the basics this country is in real trouble. Everyone out there was told as a child “You have to be fair to everyone and learn to share”. To bad some of us didn’t listen! Greed and corruption have destroyed the future of many law abiding hard working tax paying citizens in The United States of America. It’s going to take a lot of hard work and honesty to restore hope for the generations of our future. We all need to pray for our nation.
I also have a special needs child and I have no problem with the programs already in place. Palin needs to go back to Alaska and take care of their failing education instead of screwing up the rest of the country.
Keith Olberman reported after the announcement of Palin as McCain's VP that one of Palin's first budget cuts for Alaska last year was to cut Alaska's budget for Special Olympics in half. He stated that he would donate $100 for every untruth she told that he could validate, and for several days continued announcing each day another untruth and stating he would send another $100 to the Alaska Special Olympics fund.
I find it interesting that now she is VERY much committed to children of special needs. Is it because she now has a special needs child or just the politics? Why didn't she care last year?
Hmm, Isn't part of Palin 's speeches to say "We will freeze all spending" How can you fund programs when no money is being spent. Go back and listen to the last debate. BO bought up improving the programs for special needs children and McCain jumped on him about his irresponsible spending. This is just another ploy by the McCain campaign to make this person look sympathetic. I think parents would appreciate proper health care for their special needs children. Special needs children grow into adults and need health insurance through out their lives. I don't think that $2,500 a year (assuming they stay single) will buy them the health insurance they will need.
Wait a minute....didn't Gov. Sarah Palin in fact nix a $250K allocation for Special Olympics in Alaska not too long ago? I don't trust someone who'd do that.
As a parent of a daughter with Down Syndrome, I am not very impressed with Palin's plan to improve the lives of special needs children. First of all, McCain's health care plan would elimnate my daughter chances for coverage because she has several pre-existing conditions related to her DS. Also, what exactly is her definition of a special needs child? Will it include ADHD children, children who suffer from seizures, emotionally unstable children? Does she have any idea how many children in the US have been diagnosed as special needs? She is just trying to tug at the heart strings of new parents with special needs children. If her son had not been born with Down Syndrome, would she still feel this way? Highly doubtful.
As a professor of special education it is refreshing to hear a public figure discuss special education issues, however those in the field know that when referring to a child with a disability, it is respectful to refer to the CHILD FIRST then the disability. Thus, discussing "special needs children" rather than "children with special needs" demonstrates a lack of understanding. Special Education and parents advocates have worked long and hard to remove labeling children. In addition, using the topic of special education to promote inaccurate information about Obama raising taxes seems insensitive. I would prefer that Sarah Palin outline her plan for special education in an informed and articulate manner that does not include smearing her opponent. Moreover, I believe Obama has a better plan which is to focus on early childhood education so that many children (a significant majority according to research) that are identified in elementary school as having learning disabilities may never need special education services. Obama's plan is preventative while Palin's plan attempts to fix a problem that might otherwise have been prevented with fully funded early childhood services.
As a professor of special education it is refreshing to hear a public figure discuss special education issues, however those in the field know that when referring to a child with a disability, it is respectful to refer to the CHILD FIRST then the disability. Thus, discussing "special needs children" rather than "children with special needs" demonstrates a lack of understanding. Special Education and parents advocates have worked long and hard to remove labeling children. In addition, using the topic of special education to promote inaccurate information about Obama raising taxes seems insensitive. I would prefer that Sarah Palin outline her plan for special education in an informed and articulate manner that does not include smearing her opponent. Moreover, I believe Obama has a better plan which is to focus on early childhood education so that many children (a significant majority according to research) that are identified in elementary school as having learning disabilities may never need special education services. Obama's plan is preventative while Palin's plan attempts to fix a problem that might otherwise have been prevented with fully funded early childhood services.
I'm concerned about who is writing the speech for Gov. Palin - the fruit fly research is all about researching autism. Why didn't the speech writer do some research before allowing Sarah to say these words!
I am disappointed to see the discussion by posters here turn the issue from advocacy for our special needs kids to a partisan debate. The devil in policy maybe politics but where should we deny advocacy because of the politics? Gov. Palin is simply trying to champion the too often overlooked needs of some special kids.
This was Palin's revolutionary plan we all waited for with bated breath? As other posters noted, Obama/Biden already support fully funding IDEA. McCain has only made the wishy-washy statement that he supports increased efforts for federal funding, but of course, we know that he hasn't tried very hard in all the years he has been in the Senate. Once again, McCain and Palin are off message.
And there is nothing new about funding pre-school special ed, either. That already happens in my state, and I suspect many others.
There are no new ideas here. This is merely the latest knee jerk attempt at damage control - something else to save her image (if that is possible) and deflect attention from her $150,000 wardrobe.
Special needs...........what about good old ordinary kids and their education? I am seeing lots of funding getting stripped from public schools....overcrowded classes, lack of teachers...what a sham! I feel for special needs children but to see one special needs child get one on one attention and the rest of the class ( about 35 kids) gets one teacher...there is something wrong with this picture!
Well...claiming to be so knowledgeable about children and families with special needs children -- I would like to suggest everyone read an article about Governor PALIAR of Alaska:
www.adn.com/news/alaska/ap_alaska/story/558271.html
PALIAR wants to fully fund IDEA, huh...then,why did she veto state capital budget project serving special needs children? PALIAR sliced 1/2 of $550,000 budget for indoor facility for Special Olympics!!!!!!!
For the first 19 months in office she didn't care-one-bit above children with special needs...then Trig came along!?! GO FIGURE!!!!
She discusts me!
I find this VP (and McSAME) so out-of-touch; like BO has advised OVER, and OVER, and OVER!
Doesn't PALIAR realize she is "LABELING" children with special needs...saying "special needs children".
Here again, she can't put two-and-two together and remember her recent NBC-Brian Williams, interview discussing "LABELING" people.
A McCain / Palin admin would be devastating for the special needs community. McCain wrongly referred to Palin's child as having autism as recently as the third presidential debate. How genuine can he be to 'forget', or uninformed, not to know the difference.
If they get elected, between privitization and trickle down economics, there will be no funding, no oversight, no protection for our children.
As the mother of an autistic child, I shudder at the thought. Please, before you vote, look at his website and compare his plan to theirs.
A McCain / Palin admin would be devastating for the special needs community. McCain wrongly referred to Palin's child as having autism as recently as the third presidential debate. How genuine can he be to 'forget', or uninformed, not to know the difference.
If they get elected, between privatization and trickle down economics, there will be no funding, no oversight, no protection for our children.
As the mother of an autistic child, I shudder at the thought. Please, before you vote, look at his website and compare his plan to theirs.
A McCain / Palin admin would be devastating for the special needs community. McCain wrongly referred to Palin's child as having autism as recently as the third presidential debate. How genuine can he be to 'forget', or uninformed, not to know the difference.
If they get elected, between privatization and trickle down economics, there will be no funding, no oversight, no protection for our children.
As the mother of an autistic child, I shudder at the thought. Please, before you vote, look at his website and compare his plan to theirs.
How many mothers of special needs children do you see spending 150,000 on wardrobes? None,and if a mother was presented with 150,000 for a new wardrobe or the option to help her child and others I am 100% postive she would do the right thing. HELP HER CHILD AND OTHERS.
I laughed out loud when Sarah Palin promised vouchers so "the parents and caretakers of children with physical or mental disabilities will be able to send that boy or girl to the school of their choice -- public or private". I appreciate that her son has disabilities, but he is just a baby, and she hasn't yet been faced with the enormous cost and roadblocks met when trying to secure an appropriate education for a special needs child. My son's disabilities are not close to approaching those of a Down Syndrome child, or a child with severe autism, and his private high school tuition is now over 40K a year. Private school tuition for an autistic high school student can cost twice that. And most public school systems are so overburdened that they cannot begin to provide these kids with the skills they need for a best chance at a mainstream life--a job, social skills, independence. Her promise, while probably well-intentioned, was vague--and unrealistic--in the extreme.
I laughed out loud when Sarah Palin promised vouchers so "the parents and caretakers of children with physical or mental disabilities will be able to send that boy or girl to the school of their choice -- public or private". I appreciate that her son has disabilities, but he is just a baby, and she hasn't yet been faced with the enormous cost and roadblocks met when trying to secure an appropriate education for a special needs child. My son's disabilities are not close to approaching those of a Down Syndrome child, or a child with severe autism, and his private high school tuition is now over 40K a year. Private school tuition for an autistic high school student can cost twice that. And most public school systems are so overburdened that they cannot begin to provide these kids with the skills they need for a best chance at a mainstream life--a job, social skills, independence. Her promise, while probably well-intentioned, was vague--and unrealistic--in the extreme.
I laughed out loud when Sarah Palin promised vouchers so "the parents and caretakers of children with physical or mental disabilities will be able to send that boy or girl to the school of their choice -- public or private". I appreciate that her son has disabilities, but he is just a baby, and she hasn't yet been faced with the enormous cost and roadblocks met when trying to secure an appropriate education for a special needs child. My son's disabilities are not close to approaching those of a Down Syndrome child, or a child with severe autism, and his private high school tuition is now over 40K a year. Private school tuition for an autistic high school student can cost twice that. And most public school systems are so overburdened that they cannot begin to provide these kids with the skills they need for a best chance at a mainstream life--a job, social skills, independence. Her promise, while probably well-intentioned, was vague--and unrealistic--in the extreme.
Please forgive my 3X post--hit the button 2 too many times!
As a mother of a disable son, I totally support Palin/McCain.
Government help for the 'mentally disable' is a disastrous in this country.
Too much government help already,but not enough government working together to help the disable.
Treating the mental as a criminal instead one with a disease.
Since Palin personally understands with her own son, whereas Obama has no idea, I support her.
Until you personally have someone with a disability, you cannot truly understand.
She gets my vote!
Put all your partisan politics aside and listen to the root message. Go beyond the nuts and bolts of her policy and understand that what she is advocating goes beyond the government and her aspirations for office. People with disabilities have been left far behind in funding and decent consideration. I am the father of a young boy with autism and have been fighting uphill battles trying to get him all the treatment, therapy, and financial support possible to help rehabilitate him. It has been hard and exhuasting, sending my wife and I into debt. It greives me to know that if money were not a factor and he recevied all the funding he needed to get premium services he would be a different child today. Yes I'm voting for Sarah, because I believe she can make a huge impact in this neglected area of our society. Fine if you prefer Obama, but don't say that this is a disgraceful ploy of the republican party to attract votes and sympathy.
-Jason
If this ticket is supposed to be attentive to the rights (and notice, that is rights, not needs) of disabled persons, then why does John McCain oppose the Community Choice Act, legislation that's the result of decades of work on the part of disability activists? Obama is a co-sponsor of this legislation, while McCain says he supports the ADA (which is not even relevant to the issue of being able to pay PCA's to work in one's home instead of having the monies gobbled up by the nursing home industry. Palin is falsely representing her ticket's position.
If this ticket is supposed to be attentive to the rights (and notice, that is rights, not needs) of disabled persons, then why does John McCain oppose the Community Choice Act, legislation that's the result of decades of work on the part of disability activists? Obama is a co-sponsor of this legislation, while McCain says he supports the ADA (which is not even relevant to the issue of being able to pay PCA's to work in one's home instead of having the monies gobbled up by the nursing home industry. Palin is falsely representing her ticket's position.
If this ticket is supposed to be attentive to the rights (and notice, that is rights, not needs) of disabled persons, then why does John McCain oppose the Community Choice Act, legislation that's the result of decades of work on the part of disability activists? Obama is a co-sponsor of this legislation, while McCain says he supports the ADA (which is not even relevant to the issue of being able to pay PCA's to work in one's home instead of having the monies gobbled up by the nursing home industry). Palin is falsely representing her ticket's position.
Palin is lying. The Republicans have always resented the civil rights issues that have obligated the schools to work with children with special needs. Her whole talk about "choice" for these parents is a cloaked effort to get their children out of the public schools. These private schools she talks about will not be the typical private school. Working with special needs is very complicated and expensive. I've done it for 16 years. The private schools she's talking about will be schools for other children with special needs. They will just end up being segregated. A policy like this will trick people, sadly, into coming full circle. Children with special needs deserve to be included, but I guarantee that with her policy they will end up on the very sort of campuses that we've been struggling for decades to get them out of. This is a ruse, just as horrible as No Child Left Behind. It sounds like they have children's best interest at heart, but they don't.
Palin is lying. The Republicans have always resented the civil rights issues that have obligated the schools to work with children with special needs. Her whole talk about "choice" for these parents is a cloaked effort to get their children out of the public schools. These private schools she talks about will not be the typical private school. Working with special needs is very complicated and expensive. I've done it for 16 years. The private schools she's talking about will be schools for other children with special needs. They will just end up being segregated. A policy like this will trick people, sadly, into coming full circle. Children with special needs deserve to be included, but I guarantee that with her policy they will end up on the very sort of campuses that we've been struggling for decades to get them out of. This is a ruse, just as horrible as No Child Left Behind. It sounds like they have children's best interest at heart, but they don't.
Why doesen't she start with her staff and members in Alaska??!! How about putting someone on there with Special Needs?? This woman is so full of crap....give people a chance where you live before you lie to the country about what your NOT going to do!! What a liar and a phoney!
I sincerely wish people cared enough to actually pay attention. It is the very least a person old enough and supposedly responsible enough to vote should engage in. Rather than adhere to the media fluff and hype, how about actually investigating and looking something up for you?
These are two completely different fruitfully research papers. Governor Palin explicitly referred to the Paris, France fruit flies. Go ahead, take a listen for yourself. The NC fruit fly research was the research which may or may not lead to a better understanding of autism. Go ahead look it up or continue to be uneducated.
I am the mother of a special needs child and an educator. I'm not offended in the least by the terminology. Quite frankly I have much graver concerns and real issues, challenges and difficulties to deal with. But then, I live it 24/7 so what would I know? What a shallow, lame argument - special needs child vs. child with special needs. Although, I can't say as though it surprised me coming from someone in the field, they tend to nearly always get stuck on the wrong issues. It is no different than saying my child is autistic rather than my child has autism. I really do have much bigger battles to fight! Hello?
Palin did very well for Alaska concerning special ed. Try factchecker.com
McCain did not confuse Palin’s child with Down’s for having autism. Again, if you’d bother to listen attentively, you would realize he was speaking about ALL the families who approach him while campaigning. That’s what he clearly states.
Palin is not the one spending $150,000 on her wardrobe. The GOP is. The clothing does not belong to her and will go to charity when she is done campaigning. Again, a little honest research goes a long way to those who desire facts and truth. Moreover, if she weren't wearing appropriate clothing, there would be those who'd attack her for that, most likely the same individuals making this an issue in the first please.
As for lumping all the Repubs into one miserable category, shame on you. Division in our country has been the single largest problem we have faced for decades. Talk about being close-minded and prejudice!
Want government reform, a government run for the people, by the people, transparency in government, an advocate for your child and family in the White House? VOTE McCain – Palin!
I sincerely wish people cared enough to actually pay attention. It is the very least a person old enough and supposedly responsible enough to vote should engage in. Rather than adhere to the media fluff and hype, how about actually investigating and looking something up for you?
These are two completely different fruitfully research papers. Governor Palin explicitly referred to the Paris, France fruit flies. Go ahead, take a listen for yourself. The NC fruit fly research was the research which may or may not lead to a better understanding of autism. Go ahead look it up or continue to be uneducated.
I am the mother of a special needs child and an educator. I'm not offended in the least by the terminology. Quite frankly I have much graver concerns and real issues, challenges and difficulties to deal with. But then, I live it 24/7 so what would I know? What a shallow, lame argument - special needs child vs. child with special needs. Although, I can't say as though it surprised me coming from someone in the field, they tend to nearly always get stuck on the wrong issues. It is no different than saying my child is autistic rather than my child has autism. I really do have much bigger battles to fight! Hello?
Palin did very well for Alaska concerning special ed. Try factchecker.com
McCain did not confuse Palin’s child with Down’s for having autism. Again, if you’d bother to listen attentively, you would realize he was speaking about ALL the families who approach him while campaigning. That’s what he clearly states.
Palin is not the one spending $150,000 on her wardrobe. The GOP is. The clothing does not belong to her and will go to charity when she is done campaigning. Again, a little honest research goes a long way to those who desire facts and truth. Moreover, if she weren't wearing appropriate clothing, there would be those who'd attack her for that, most likely the same individuals making this an issue in the first please.
As for lumping all the Repubs into one miserable category, shame on you. Division in our country has been the single largest problem we have faced for decades. Talk about being close-minded and prejudice!
Want government reform, a government run for the people, by the people, transparency in government, an advocate for your child and family in the White House? VOTE McCain – Palin!
Given Sarah Palin’s stated abhorrence of higher taxes and government spending, I had assumed that her proposed $45 billion funding for special-needs children would be provided by the private sector or by donations from Christian charities. But no, if elected VP, she would pressure Congress into footing the bill. Either Governor Palin, like her equally untutored hero, Joe the Plumber, is ignorant of the meaning of socialism, or she’s a bald-faced hypocrite.
I FIND IT APPALLING THAT PALIN AND MCCAIN DO NOT EVEN KNOW THE DIFFERENCE IN THE RANGE OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN. I HAD TO GO ON THIS SITE TO FIND OUT HER "SPECIAL CHILDS NAME", SINCE I HAD ONLY HEARD HIM REFERRED TO AS A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD., EVEN BY MRS. MCCAIN IN HER GRETA STERN INTERVIEW. AS PARENT OF AN ADULT DAUGHTER WITH AUTISM WHOSE NAME IS LYNDY.YES, THEY DO HAVE NAMES. THIS IS AN INSULT TO EVERY PARENT I HAVE KNOWN WITH CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.WE WORK HARD AT NOT LABELING OUR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS AND THIS CAMPAIGN IS WORKING OUT OF TOTAL IGNORANCE AND WITH LITTLE KNOWLEDGE THEY SHOULD NOT ADDRESS IT AT ALL....LEAVE THESE CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH THEIR PRIDE. ITS A DISGRACE! WHO IS SARAH PALIN,"A WOMAN WITH GLASSES"?
Yes, she still has a lot to learn about being a parent of a kid with a disability. She will learn and in doing so it would be great to have it happen in the VP household. McCain has demonstrated his compassion in adopting kids. So far the democrat ticket is just talk too. I'd rather have someone with a demostrated compassion for kids and one who is embarking on a lifetime of learning what it really means.
Yes, she still has a lot to learn about being a parent of a kid with a disability. She will learn and in doing so it would be great to have it happen in the VP household. McCain has demonstrated his compassion in adopting kids. So far the democrat ticket is just talk too. I'd rather have someone with a demostrated compassion for kids and one who is embarking on a lifetime of learning what it really means.