Why we Can't Have a One-Track Mind

It feels as though I have been caught between two worlds as of late. As any follower of this blog knows my mission has been to redefine the way we look at and treat our children with T21. My sole focus has been on breaking down long held misconceptions (by the medical and education communities) about our children's ability to develop and learn and find ways to intervene before health issues and delay evidence themselves. Many of you are doing the same thing and having great success, but I think our single-mindednes has let something drop from our radar.

I have always been of the opinion that focusing on Lucas health and development will ensure his participation in the "typical" world and thus far it has. In fact, he does many things his typical peers can not. When we began the IAHP program I even struggled with the idea of pulling his out of preschool and purely working the program but eventually decided that two hours a day for two days a week was necessary, not for socialization and exposure of my son, but for socialization and exposure for the children and families who are his peers. It is not enough for me to know what my son is capable of, I accept and love him regardless. The world in which he must someday find his way needs to know.

Lately I have found an inspiring grass-roots effort called Stop Disability Slurs | Do You Have the Courage? http://t.co/EFaoKvDThe focus of this group is to stop the discrimination and segregation of our children
starting with the way they are portrayed in the media and in society at large. How many times have we as parents been watching a movie and heard the word "retard" and have that feeling in our stomachs, knowing we have beautiful, brilliant children at home who can do things the children of those throwing the word around can not? Knowing our children who are sensitive and compassionate to everyone around them are being targeted as a punch line? 

Now, think back to before your child was born. Did you think twice about the word when you heard someone say it? In today's world of "political correctness" many in society who do not have a child with T21 think that is what this is about. It is not. Every movie, every book, every TV show, ad, comedy routine, and dinner party that casually drops the word...or worse yet uses it as a rouse to get laughs, degrades our children. And those who don't know better, think that having such a child is a tragedy. 

Back to our children. If we exclude them from all typical environments in our quest to create ultimate learning environments, what will happen when they magically show up in the class in Kindergarten or first grade? Our kids will be fine, they will do what we know they can do...read, reach out to make friends, want to join in and treat others with respect. What about the other kids in the class - and their families? What will the reaction be when we call for an after school play date? or a sleepover when they're older? 

If our focus does not include societal change, we've done nothing. Previous posts have made mention of this, the one called "Call to Action" was by far on of the most popular posts I've made, but it seems as though we are at a cross-roads. The ante has been upped. In six weeks time comedic routines, "enlightened" magazines and movies have decided the word "retard" no longer packs the punch it once did. "Down Syndrome" has been turned into and adjective, a slur and an unflattering fashion term. Little by little our children being pushed farther and farther out of society, both figuratively and literally (see post on eugenics.)

Our children are beautiful, their faces need to be seen. Our children are brilliant, their skills need to be seen. Our children's generation will impact society, their compassion and fairness needs to be seen. Just as we must NEVER lower our expectations for our children, we must RAISE society's expectations of them. 

Please join this effort. Our desire to change our children's ability to succeed in the world, and the necessity to change the world for our children are not mutually exclusive goals. One without the other is not success.