Newspapers Examine Advocates' Reaction To GOP VP Nominee Palin's Comments On Children With Special Needs

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Also Included In: Abortion;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 10 Sep 2008 - 9:00 PST

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The New York Times on Sunday examined the reaction of advocates and parents of children with disabilities to comments by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, that she will be a "friend and advocate in the White House" for families of children with special needs. Palin's infant son, Trig, was born with Down syndrome. According to the Times, some advocates are hopeful that Palin's comments will bring the "often-marginalized subject of disabilities-rights center stage," but other advocates are concerned that her advocacy will come in the form of preventing abortions of fetuses diagnosed with disabilities instead of lobbying for early medical and developmental assistance.

About 90% of pregnancies in which the fetus is affected by Down syndrome are terminated, and new technology is allowing women to learn this information in earlier stages of their pregnancies, the Times reports (Steinhauer/Harmon, New York Times, 9/7). According to USA Today, lawmakers on both sides of the abortion-rights debate have expressed support for legislation that would require physicians to provide more detailed information about Down syndrome to parents who receive prenatal and postnatal diagnoses, including contact information for local support groups and life expectancy data (Fritze, USA Today, 9/8).

Some advocates and lawyers who work with children of special needs in Alaska said that Palin has not made the issue a centerpiece of her governorship. Sonja Kerr, a lawyer specializing in disability law in Anchorage, Alaska, said, "An advocate is someone who pleads another's cause, so what is [Palin's] plea going to be? To get rid of Medicaid wait lists so we can quickly get kids services? To quickly pass the American with Disabilities restoration act? That is what I haven't heard" (New York Times, 9/7).

According to the National Down Syndrome Society in New York, one in 733 infants born in the U.S. is affected by Down syndrome, and more than 350,000 people live with the condition, making it the most commonly occurring genetic disorder (USA Today, 9/8).

Anchorage Daily News Examines Palin's Abortion, Sex Education Positions

In related news, the Anchorage Daily News reports that although Palin is an adamant opponent of abortion rights, she has not pushed the issue in her agenda as governor of Alaska. Palin on a 2006 Eagle Forum questionnaire wrote, "I am pro-life. With the exception of a doctor's determination that the mother's life would end if the pregnancy continued. I believe that no matter what mistakes we make as a society, we cannot condone ending an innocent's life."

According to the Daily News, Palin earlier this year supported some antiabortion bills but, when they did not pass during the regular session, she did not place them back on the agenda for special sessions this summer. However, state Sen. Fred Dyson (R) said Palin had told him earlier this year that she will call a special session on abortion. Palin Deputy Press Secretary Sharon Leighow said that nothing has been decided on the issue but added that "discussions are ongoing." Leighow said that discussions on Palin's judicial appointments to state courts are private but added that Palin "generally avoids questions about specific legal issues that may come before the candidate."

Alaska Right to Life endorsed one of Palin's opponents when she was running for lieutenant governor in 2002, but the group endorsed her in the 2006 gubernatorial race. Palin also is a member of the group Feminists for Life. "We know that Gov. Palin has identified herself as anti-choice, and she is as anti-choice a candidate as one can be," said Brittany Goodnight, public affairs manager for Planned Parenthood of Alaska (Demer, Anchorage Daily News, 9/7).

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