Spotlight on Autism

Ms. Chew is right. As the father of a 4-year-old girl with autism and epilepsy, I've been following this issue closely on my blog, Special Needs 08. Obama has a thoughtful, well-defined plan developed with the help of disability advocates (and experienced parents). McCain-Palin have no plan, admit they have no plan, and yet some families think they will help them -- while imposing a spending freeze that will further cut services, implementing a health plan that will deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions (like, for example, autism and Down Syndrome), etc.
http://specialneeds08.blogspot.com

Kristina is write. I've been following this issue for several months on my blog, Special Needs 08. Obama has a thoughtful, extensive plan. McCain-Palin have no plan.
http://specialneeds08.blogspot.com

Thank you, Newsweek, for this enlightening article. I, too, was wondering what John McCain was getting at when he injected the quote, "Sarah Palin knows more about special needs children than anyone else." Was he using the fact that her son, Trig, was born with Down syndrome to somehow prove that she is now a "special needs expert?" One has to wonder if Senator McCain has any sense of the complexities and demands of special needs children or whether he was pandering to this constituency. In fact, one has to wonder whether he actually understands that Down Syndrome and Autism are different. Her purported expertise seems dubious, given her remarkably short maternity break (3 days). Although it is very politically incorrect to say, I nevertheless feel compelled to add this last comment: Governor Palin has an INFANT with special needs; her baby is just six months old. This is a critical time in the life of a child, a crucial period in the mother-child bonding experience. That Sarah Palin chooses to pursue her ambitions as a politician may seem extraordinary to some, but to me it speaks volumes about her commitment to her special needs child.

Obama, the excuses are wearing thin. what excuse do you have for this one?:
http://www.againstobama.com/2008/10/obama-praised-searing-and-timely-book-by-ayers/

IF he was serious, he could have researched it at least to the point of knowing it is completely different from Down's Syndrome.
By the way, with his health care plan, there is NO WAY that $5000 tax break is going to cover ANY kid with Autism's needs!

YIKES Frank Davis who Obama states in his first book as who he drank whiskey with at the age of ten and took advice for 7 years is a communist pedophile and now KHALID MANSOUR an attorney for the Black Panthers and advisor to the Saudi Royal Family sponosored Obama into Harvard, YIKES no wonder he wont do drilling here and his tie into Ayers Panther trials bombings!!!!!!!!!! THE PUZZLE PICES COMING TOGETHER!!!!!!!!

I agree with others who have pointed out that Sarah Palin's road with her Down's Syndrome child has barely begun, so it seems implausible that she understands more than any one else what having a special needs child is like. Maybe in a few years she'll have a clue, but not now. In addition, there are other disorders that have autistic components (Asperger's syndrome for one) and it can take years before real "trouble" begins to be manifested. My husband wasn't properly diagnosed with Asperger's until he was in his 40's and the autistic component of it caused a eating disorder which killed him at age 51. I don't think Sarah Palin knows what she is talking about at this stage in the situation and she and McCain are only trying to score votes. Sorry. They do not have mine.

Of course, loriw - I know many teachers in Iowa, that can't stand the NEA or AFT, or whatever they are now. And, no surprise, (Iowa, Wisconsin & Minnesota, are the exceptions), public schools are failing. Just throwing more and more money at them, is not the answer. "Affirmative action" is not the answer. "No child left behind", is not the answer. I think that parental responsibility, which seems to be irrelevant with many peoples. "Oh, it's the schools fault". "The white people have to take care of us".

Sarah Palin has a nephew with Autism.

Here are the FACTS regarding John McCain and his "pledge" of help:

IDEA, (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) is the federal law that states that every person with a disability is entitled to a free and appropriate public school education. The government is supposed to fund
this at 40%, with the balance of the funds being paid from State and local budgets. Unfortunately, IDEA has never been fully funded.
While McCain DOES vote for the reauthorization of the law, he does NOT vote for the actual funding necessary for the states to fully meet the needs of the law.

A simple review of his voting record on the U.S. Senate website shows that time and time again when colleagues from BOTH sides of the aisle attempt legislation to increase funding for IDEA, McCain votes "nay."
When added to the fact that McCain continues to favor the idea of vouchers for parents, this is a major concern for parents of special education students, as vouchers will continue to drain school district budgets that are already not receiving adequate funding.

Look at the record of his voting, and make your decision based on that...not on rhetoric and empty pledges and promises.

Obama voted 138 times "present" - nothing to state which we he prefers. he talks but his votes say nothing. never authored a bill, never worked across the lines to co-author bills and now can all of a sudden make things happen because of what he says.. I find that difficult to understand that thinking. McCain says things and does them, he's proven it throughout his experiences.

I've read that Sarah Palin has a sister who has a child with autism, and during the primaries John McCain was apparently the most receptive to autism advocates than any of the other candidates. However, special ed is most definitely a Democratic issue, and education in general certainly is. The reality is that we can't get regular education right in this country, so how can we expect to get education for children with disabilities right? But I'm convinced that we have a better chance under Barack Obama than under a Republican administration, because education is a priority to him in a way I haven't heard in a very long time. There's no doubt in my mind that John McCain was pandering when he brought up autism at the last debate, but I was so shocked to hear it mentioned at all, and then underscored by Obama's concurrence, that I can't help but feel optimistic that autism has finally gained a position on the national agenda. I won't vote for McCain based solely on his sympathy for families of children with autism, it's just not enough. But I do give him credit and kudos for bringing up the issue of autism at one of the most high profile national forums we have. Now it's up to us to continue beating the drum louder than ever.

oops, sorry about the caps:):)

I've read that Sarah Palin has a sister who has a child with autism, and during the primaries John McCain was apparently the most receptive to autism advocates than any of the other candidates. However, special ed is most definitely a Democratic issue, and education in general certainly is. The reality is that we can't get regular education right in this country, so how can we expect to get education for children with disabilities right? But I'm convinced that we have a better chance under Barack Obama than under a Republican administration, because education is a priority to him in a way I haven't heard in a very long time. There's no doubt in my mind that John McCain was pandering when he brought up autism at the last debate, but I was so shocked to hear it mentioned at all, and then underscored by Obama's concurrence, that I can't help but feel optimistic that autism has finally gained a position on the national agenda. I won't vote for McCain based solely on his sympathy for families of children with autism, it's just not enough. But I do give him credit and kudos for bringing up the issue of autism at one of the most high profile national forums we have. Now it's up to us to continue beating the drum louder than ever.

BY THE WAY, I FORGOT TO MENTION IN MY PREVIOUS COMMENT. PLEASE CONTINUE TO ASK MORE FROM YOUR NEWS AGENCIES AND DEMAND THEM TO TAKE MORE RESPONSIBILITY. HONEST REPORTING IS THIER RESPONSIBILITY SO THAT WE "THE READERS" CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. LOOK AT IT LIKE ACORN, THEY COULD OF HAD ALL THE RIGHT INTENTIONS BUT IF THEY ARE BIASED IN THEIR APPROACH THEN IT GETS IN THE WAY OF GETTING THE RIGHT MESSAGE OUT. THAT IS WHY TEACHERS AREN'T ALLOWED TO PROMOTE THIER CANDIDATES IN THE CLASSROOM.