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At Home with Down Syndrome (2008)

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Re: At Home with Down Syndrome (2008)

#41

Post by loevborg »

danw1979 wrote: post #12
nvarsj wrote: post #6

I think that Down Syndrome is a very misunderstood syndrome. The way it makes you look dominates how people think about you, without even knowing you. I interact with someone online who has Down Syndrome. It really changed my understanding of it. He can articulate very well when writing, and has a deep passion and understanding on some topics we discuss (like music...). If he hadn't of told me he had Down Syndrome I…

That 90% may move much closer to 100% with the wider availability of the maternal blood test screening for foetal trisonomies (branded “Harmony test” in the UK) which is supposedly very accurate. My wife opted to have this test for two of her pregnancies at about 13 weeks, both negative. It’s impossible to say what we would have done given a positive result. Everything I hear about the way such a diagnosis is handled…

My experience in Germany mirrors yours. Although you of course have the choice (not to take the test, not to act on the results), the process felt like it was leading inevitably down the path of aborting the pregnancy in case of a positive Harmony result confirmed by another test. I found the experience, including talking to relatives about the topic, quite unsettling.

Re: At Home with Down Syndrome (2008)

#42

Post by anthk »

ReadFList wrote: post #38
anthk wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Sick world. Half of Europe will allow you legally to abort a potential child with Down Syndrome for ethical reasons. What if the child matures and their parents die and there is no relatives to take care of them? That's really dangerous. But hey, the so called "free" Americans will know better. Sure.

>What if the child matures and their parents die and there is no relatives to take care of them? We have plenty of social structures to take care of them, and where there aren't we create them, but that is what should be done, and what we already do to orphans, sick people, etc. Why are people with DS different? >But hey, the so called "free" Americans will know better. Sure. I am European.

Ok, Spaniard here, were are not eugenysts or some crazy wackos, we just take in account all possible issues with a severly disabled future person both for the surrouding people and themselves.

Re: At Home with Down Syndrome (2008)

#43

Post by 2lwxxtj »

rubidium wrote: post #39
nvarsj wrote: post #6

I think that Down Syndrome is a very misunderstood syndrome. The way it makes you look dominates how people think about you, without even knowing you. I interact with someone online who has Down Syndrome. It really changed my understanding of it. He can articulate very well when writing, and has a deep passion and understanding on some topics we discuss (like music...). If he hadn't of told me he had Down Syndrome I…

It’s effectively genocide and quite damning on society. I don’t put it squarely on the parents because it is so difficult. My neice has downs. Interactions with her are about the here and now. Joy and life. Fun and wit. Not plans and efficiency and production. Those with downs are modern day prophets for the rest of us to expose the soul-destroying utilitarian ethics of modern society... and we’re killing them!

How is it "damning on society"? Raising normal children is already a massive time commitment, and at the end you get a functioning adult that you don't have to take care of, and which can give you grand children. Why would anyone want a child that takes even more time and has to be taken care of for its entire life?

Re: At Home with Down Syndrome (2008)

#44

Post by ReadFList »

anthk wrote: post #42
ReadFList wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>What if the child matures and their parents die and there is no relatives to take care of them? We have plenty of social structures to take care of them, and where there aren't we create them, but that is what should be done, and what we already do to orphans, sick people, etc. Why are people with DS different? >But hey, the so called "free" Americans will know better. Sure. I am European.

Ok, Spaniard here, were are not eugenysts or some crazy wackos, we just take in account all possible issues with a severly disabled future person both for the surrouding people and themselves.

>were are not eugenysts or some crazy wackos

I, respectfully, disagree.

>we just take in account all possible issues with a severly disabled future person both for the surrouding people and themselves.

Following that "logic" we should euthanize every single human being because we don't know which bad things can happen to them. I mean who wants to suffer right? We can't allow for anyone to be a burden on anyone, it's not like we have any obligation for others.

Everything you said could be applied to everyone. Including you and me.

Re: At Home with Down Syndrome (2008)

#45

Post by rory »

meepmorp wrote: post #40
rory wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regardless of which classifications he fits or does not fit into, it's pretty obvious he's not neurotypical.

No, that's bullshit. Don't play armchair neurologist and diagnose people's conditions from a distance as a way of explaining their behavior.

I clearly stated I'm not diagnosing any conditions, so the accusation is uncalled for.

Neurotypical is hardly a scientific word, but to the extent it applies to anyone, you'd have a hard time convincing me it applies to RMS.

Re: At Home with Down Syndrome (2008)

#46

Post by canam »

2lwxxtj wrote: post #43
rubidium wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s effectively genocide and quite damning on society. I don’t put it squarely on the parents because it is so difficult. My neice has downs. Interactions with her are about the here and now. Joy and life. Fun and wit. Not plans and efficiency and production. Those with downs are modern day prophets for the rest of us to expose the soul-destroying utilitarian ethics of modern society... and we’re killing them!

How is it "damning on society"? Raising normal children is already a massive time commitment, and at the end you get a functioning adult that you don't have to take care of, and which can give you grand children. Why would anyone want a child that takes even more time and has to be taken care of for its entire life?

As the parent of a child with Down Syndrome who is also autistic, I can say it is wonderful experience. He brings us great joy and love, despite his unique needs. I couldn't imagine that anyone who met him thinks he doesn't deserve to exist.

Re: At Home with Down Syndrome (2008)

#47

Post by 2lwxxtj »

canam wrote: post #46
2lwxxtj wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is it "damning on society"? Raising normal children is already a massive time commitment, and at the end you get a functioning adult that you don't have to take care of, and which can give you grand children. Why would anyone want a child that takes even more time and has to be taken care of for its entire life?

As the parent of a child with Down Syndrome who is also autistic, I can say it is wonderful experience. He brings us great joy and love, despite his unique needs. I couldn't imagine that anyone who met him thinks he doesn't deserve to exist.

Do you have other children? Would you have preferred it if your child with Down Syndrome had not been born that way?

Re: At Home with Down Syndrome (2008)

#48

Post by gadders »

nvarsj wrote: post #6

I think that Down Syndrome is a very misunderstood syndrome. The way it makes you look dominates how people think about you, without even knowing you. I interact with someone online who has Down Syndrome. It really changed my understanding of it. He can articulate very well when writing, and has a deep passion and understanding on some topics we discuss (like music...). If he hadn't of told me he had Down Syndrome I…

I always thought there was a certain tension between being against aborting babies with Downs Syndrome but being OK for healthy babies being aborted for lifestyle reasons.

[Not OP specifically, just something I have observed]

Re: At Home with Down Syndrome (2008)

#49

Post by willwashburn »

Down syndrome continues to be the most common chromosomal disorder. Each year, about 6,000 babies are born with Down syndrome, which is about 1 in every 700 babies born.

Between 1979 and 2003, the number of babies born with Down syndrome increased by about 30%.

Older mothers are more likely to have a baby affected by Down syndrome than younger mothers. In other words, the prevalence of Down syndrome increases as the mother’s age increases. Prevalence is an estimate of how often a condition occurs among a certain group of people. To estimate the prevalence of Down syndrome, the number of pregnancies affected by Down syndrome is compared to the total number of live births.

Re: At Home with Down Syndrome (2008)

#50

Post by canam »

2lwxxtj wrote: post #47
canam wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As the parent of a child with Down Syndrome who is also autistic, I can say it is wonderful experience. He brings us great joy and love, despite his unique needs. I couldn't imagine that anyone who met him thinks he doesn't deserve to exist.

Do you have other children? Would you have preferred it if your child with Down Syndrome had not been born that way?

I do. I have another son who does not have Down Syndrome.

Your question is difficult to answer. His condition is a part of who he is. If he didn't have Down Syndrome he would be a different person. In effect your question is do I wish I had a different son. The answer is no, despite the challenges.

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