Re: contact Obama to fund ds research -- was pretty classy...

[Guest guest]

Here is what I wrote in case people want to just cut and paste. Our voices can be heard if enough of us write.Dear President Obama,This is regarding your comment about Special Olympics on the Late Show with Letterman. I am asking that you make amends for that unfortunate comment with your actions -- by increasing the funding for Down syndrome research. Due to recent breakthroughs in genetics and Down syndrome research at facilities such as Stanford University, a treatment appears imminent. If individuals with Down syndrome can live more independent lives, the government could save much of the 6 billion dollars spent annually for people with Down syndrome, and these people could become tax-paying citizens. The long-term benefit to our society is

huge. The initial, up-front cost of the research could, in the end, save taxpayer dollars. For the majority of people with Down syndrome, a mere 10-20% improvement in cognition could mean that they would live independent lives and support themselves financially. This research could also help people with other developmental disabilities.People with Down syndrome are living longer lives, many into their 70s, but nearly all will develop Alzheimer like symptoms by the time they are in their 40s. A link has been made between a gene associated with Down syndrome cognitive issues and the cognitive issues associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The research being developed for Down syndrome has the potential to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s, not only in people with Down syndrome, but in the general population as well. I think Dr. Mobley, a Stanford research, said it best when he said, “During times of tight

budgets, it may be tempting to de-emphasize research. And yet, research – particularly medical research – is the best investment we can make in health care for our country. If we are concerned about cutting future health care costs, we must look for ways to prevent those costs from occurring.â€Thank you for your time. I know how valuable it is.Respectfully, Kotsovolosmother to a sweet, loving 2 year old boy with Down syndromeTo: DownSyndromeInfoExchange Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009

8:50:53 AMSubject: Fw: contact Obama to fund ds research -- was pretty classy...

Please see the included email and take action today. Just cut and

paste from my email or write something from your heart. Let's not bash

Pres. Obama -- let's ask for his help. Let's get something out of this.----- Forwarded Message ----To: Down Syndrome Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 8:46:39 AMSubject: Re: contact Obama to fund ds research -- was New Remarks to be Overheard at Special Olympics

Let's not get angry, let's get organized. If enough of us ask President Obama to make amends through his actions by funding down syndrome research at a higher level, he might just do it. This is our chance -- the opening we've been waiting for. If the very promising research can be turned into treatments and we see a mere 10-20% improvement in cognition, the majority of people with down syndrome would move from dependent living to independent living. (see dsrtf.org for the graph) The govt could save much of the $6 billion they spend annually to support people with down syndrome. Plus, this research can improve the cognition of people with other developmental delays. There's also a drug being researched that will reduce the affects of Alzheimer's

disease which could help a very large community of people, not just people with down syndrome. There have been recent breakthroughs in down syndrome research -- let's ask President Obama to fund it at a higher level to turn these breakthroughs into treatments. If enough of us send a message to the President, we can make a difference. There won't be another chance like this to be heard.go to www.whitehouse.gov, scroll down to the bottom and on the right hand side click on "contact" to send your message. Thanks,From: susan kotsovolos

To: DOWN-SYN@...Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 8:02:39 AMSubject: Re: New Remarks to be Overheard at Special Olympics

We should tell him that he can make up for his gaff by funding down syndrome research at a higher level. The research is very promising but can't get turned into a treatment unless the researchers get more funding. With this one step, he can improve cognition, learning, speech and memory in our kids. Then we'd be happy to accept his apology. President Obama -- support our children, don't make fun of them. ________________________________To: DOWN-SYN@...Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 5:16:23 AMSubject: Re: New Remarks to be Overheard at Special OlympicsComments and questions can be

submitted at www.whitehouse.govHere's mine,I am extremely disappointed in President Obama. His Special Olympics rema=rk shows that he shares=20the same prejudices as some of his predecessors, Bush I and Al Gor=e talking about the "extra=20chromosome" crowd. You can say that was just a harmless attempt at humor =but that belies the fact=20that people with physical and intellectual disabilities still appear to b=e fair game for the ignorant and=20the biased. I was hopeful that Mr. Obama was smarter, better, above all t=hat. So, would it have been=20funny if Leno had replied, "Oh, I thought we elected a nigger, not a reta=rd?" Seems that hate=20language is not reserved for people with white skins and red necks. Maybe=this is why sitting=20presidents have not appeared on the Tonight Show. Shameful.And more to

the point, my wife asks, is that what you're

teaching your da=ughters? And the rest of=20America? That kids who do Special Olympics are funny? And it's okay to ma=ke fun of them?

[Guest guest]

Minor typoIt was the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Here is what I wrote in case people want to just cut and paste.  Our voices can be heard if enough of us write.Dear President Obama,

This is regarding your comment about Special Olympics on the Late Show with Letterman.  I am asking that you make amends for that unfortunate comment with your actions -- by increasing the funding for Down syndrome research. 

Due to recent breakthroughs in genetics and Down syndrome research at facilities such as Stanford University, a treatment appears imminent.  If individuals with Down syndrome can live more independent lives, the government could save much of the 6 billion dollars spent annually for people with Down syndrome, and these people could become tax-paying citizens. The long-term benefit to our society is

huge. The initial, up-front cost of the research could, in the end, save taxpayer dollars.  For the majority of people with Down syndrome, a mere 10-20% improvement in cognition could mean that they would live independent lives and support themselves financially.  This research could also help people with other developmental disabilities.

People with Down syndrome are living longer lives, many into their 70s, but nearly all will develop Alzheimer like symptoms by the time they are in their 40s.  A link has been made between a gene associated with Down syndrome cognitive issues and the cognitive issues associated with Alzheimer’s disease.  The research being developed for Down syndrome has the potential to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s, not only in people with Down syndrome, but in the general population as well.

I think Dr. Mobley, a Stanford research, said it best when he said, “During times of tight

budgets, it may be tempting to de-emphasize research.  And yet, research – particularly medical research – is the best investment we can make in health care for our country.  If we are concerned about cutting future health care costs, we must look for ways to prevent those costs from occurring.”

Thank you for your time.  I know how valuable it is.Respectfully, Kotsovolosmother to a sweet, loving 2 year old boy with Down syndrome

To: DownSyndromeInfoExchange Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009

8:50:53 AMSubject: Fw: contact Obama to fund ds research -- was pretty classy...

Please see the included email and take action today.  Just cut and

paste from my email or write something from your heart.  Let's not bash

Pres. Obama -- let's ask for his help.  Let's get something out of this.

----- Forwarded Message ----

To: Down Syndrome Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 8:46:39 AM

Subject: Re: contact Obama to fund ds research -- was New Remarks to be Overheard at Special Olympics

Let's not get angry, let's get organized.  If enough of us ask President Obama to make amends through his actions by funding down syndrome research at a higher level, he might just do it.  This is our chance -- the opening we've been waiting for.  If the very promising research can be turned into treatments and we see a mere 10-20% improvement in cognition, the majority of people with down syndrome would move from dependent living to independent living.  (see dsrtf.org for the graph)  The govt could save much of the $6 billion they spend annually to support people with down syndrome.  Plus, this research can improve the cognition of people with other developmental delays.  There's also a drug being researched that will reduce the affects of Alzheimer's

disease which could help a very large community of people, not just people with down syndrome.  There have been recent breakthroughs in down syndrome research -- let's ask President Obama to fund it at a higher level to turn these breakthroughs into treatments.  If enough of us send a message to the President, we can make a difference.  There won't be another chance like this to be heard.

go to www.whitehouse.gov, scroll down to the bottom and on the right hand side click on " contact " to send your message. 

Thanks,

From: susan kotsovolos

To: DOWN-SYN@...

Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 8:02:39 AMSubject: Re: New Remarks to be Overheard at Special Olympics

We should tell him that he can make up for his gaff by funding down syndrome research at a higher level.  The research is very promising but can't get turned into a treatment unless the researchers get more funding.  With this one step, he can improve cognition, learning, speech and memory in our kids.  Then we'd be happy to accept his apology.  President Obama -- support our children, don't make fun of them.

________________________________To: DOWN-SYN@...

Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 5:16:23 AMSubject: Re: New Remarks to be Overheard at Special OlympicsComments and questions can be

submitted at www.whitehouse.govHere's mine,I am extremely disappointed in President Obama. His Special Olympics rema=rk shows that he shares=20

the same prejudices as some of his predecessors, Bush I and Al Gor=e talking about the " extra=20chromosome " crowd. You can say that was just a harmless attempt at humor =but that belies the fact=20

that people with physical and intellectual disabilities still appear to b=e fair game for the ignorant and=20the biased. I was hopeful that Mr. Obama was smarter, better, above all t=hat. So, would it have been=20

funny if Leno had replied, " Oh, I thought we elected a nigger, not a reta=rd? " Seems that hate=20language is not reserved for people with white skins and red necks. Maybe=this is why sitting=20presidents have not appeared on the Tonight Show. Shameful.

And more to

the point, my wife asks, is that what you're

teaching your da=ughters? And the rest of=20America? That kids who do Special Olympics are funny? And it's okay to ma=ke fun of them?     

-- Chris