Disability / Ability (to Joan)

[Guest guest]

> Joan- I was responding to this \/\/\/

>

> > Thanks. I have to

> > >admit, though, I found it a bit depressing. Is it true that Mia can

> talk

> > >like you have in quotes?

>

> because it is so often the feeling other parents have after a

> presentation at a conference or a piece on TV etc..... My comments had

> nothing to do with the publication Disability Solutions or Mia.

> Thank you for the url to see this article! (You are right..I haven't seen

it)

>

> My comment had nothing to do with your work either. I don't even live in

> your

> country! My criticism of many associations for the handicapped stands...It

> would be nice to see wider representation! I don't doubt that

> you do what you can about that. I was attempting to let another parent

know

> that I understood their reaction...and I was offering my opinion on what I

> has been my experience. I certainly had no intention of taking anything

away

>

> from this young woman's accomplishments!!!!!

> I hope you can get used to me Joan?

> To give you an idea - I just contacted a person who had posted on another

> site that they wanted to adopt a baby with Down syndrome. They were asking

> if

> anyone knew of any adoption agency they could contact. I emailed them and

> asked " Why? " I asked if they were someone who bought the myths etc. The

> woman

> emailed me and asked why I was so hostile. She then went on to give a most

> impressive list of credentials. I am glad I emailed her. So I wrote her

> back

> with a " Touche! " ...and an explanation...

> We have heard that in the U.S. you have private adoption agencies so we

> wonder at the investigative measures and accountability of those agencies.

> Since we have seen many instances of abuse towards the vulnerable &

> powerless...I felt no need to apologize for questioning a person who is

> looking to adopt a child with Down syndrome. There have been people who

did

> so believing that all kids with Downs are, as one actually put it, " like a

> friendly puppy! " I have a daughter who works in the field of

> child-abuse...and one of the " children " she represented was a 56 year old

> man

> who had been sexually abused and had the mind of a 5 year old at tops......

> So

> I hope you understand some of the reasons I am such an

> outspoken ****disturber?

> Dodi

>