Fw: NDSC News Release

[Guest guest]

Below is NDSC’s response to comments made by Professor Albert , as reported by several media outlets.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Tolleson

Atlanta, GA -- February 22, 2008 -- According to a Raleigh News and Observer report and articles in a number of other journals, biology professor Albert of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, has stated, "In my opinion, the moral thing for older mothers to do is to have amniocentesis, as soon during pregnancy as is safe for the fetus, test whether placental cells have a third chromosome #21, and abort the fetus if it does," While Professor qualified his statement as his "opinion" the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) finds the professor has violated basic academic standards by expressing an opinion based on personal, anecdotal experience in a classroom setting. Reports suggest that did so to spark discussion and debate. The NDSC would welcome that; however, we find adds nothing to a debate which has been ongoing for sometime. He cites the fact that his opinion is based on the experience of one acquaintance whose life was, according to him, "ruined' by a child with Down syndrome. Instead of basing his opinion on facts, his own research or a clear understanding of the key points underpinning the debate, has inserted his personal and quite obviously prejudicial opinion into an academic forum. In doing so, he has abused his responsibility to his students, colleagues and university. He has also inflicted unnecessary pain on people with Down syndrome and their families. Down syndrome is the most common naturally occurring cause of developmental delay. Occurring once in every 800 to 1000 live births, the syndrome affects approximately 350,000 Americans. Down syndrome impacts people across an extremely wide range, however it is rare for it to be, in fact, ruinous by any definition. The contrary is more often the case. NDSC Executive Director Tolleson notes, “We are in constant contact with a large, vigorous national and international community of people with Down syndrome, their families and the professionals who support them. Additionally, published academic studies have found that most people with a family member with Down syndrome consider the experience to be a positive one.” Far from ruining lives, our families consistently report that their sons, daughters or siblings with Down syndrome enhance their lives and bring them great joy. A quick scan of the internet will produce many examples of people with Down syndrome who are embraced and valued by their families and communities. In the post secondary world, people with Down syndrome increasingly attend college and take their places as loyal, productive and valued employees. We question how any of that can be termed "ruinous."We therefore ask Professor to retract his statement. In doing so, we also request that the professor make an appropriate apology to his students, explain clearly that his statement was a personal opinion and has no scientific basis and make every effort to convey to them current, accurate facts regarding Down syndrome. Should Professor decline to do so, we call upon the University of North Carolina to investigate this incident and take appropriate disciplinary action.

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[Guest guest]

Good for him.

KathyR

From:

DownSyndromeInfoExchange

[mailto:DownSyndromeInfoExchange ] On Behalf Of

McElwee

Sent: Friday, February 22, 2008 11:19 PM

To: DownSyndromeInfoExchange ; Down Syndrome

Subject: [DownSyndromeInfoExchange] Fw: NDSC News Release

Below is NDSC’s response to comments made

by Professor Albert , as reported by several media outlets.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Tolleson

Atlanta, GA -- February 22, 2008

-- According to a Raleigh News and Observer report and articles in a

number of other journals,

biology

professor Albert of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, has

stated, " In my opinion, the moral

thing for older mothers to do is to have amniocentesis, as soon during

pregnancy as is safe for the fetus, test whether placental cells have a third

chromosome #21, and abort the fetus if it does, "

While

Professor qualified his statement as his " opinion " the

National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) finds the professor has violated basic

academic standards by expressing an opinion based on personal, anecdotal

experience in a classroom setting.

Reports suggest that did so to spark discussion and debate. The NDSC

would welcome that; however, we find adds nothing to a debate which has

been ongoing for sometime. He cites the fact that his opinion is based on the

experience of one acquaintance whose life was, according to him, " ruined'

by a child with Down syndrome. Instead of basing his opinion on facts, his own

research or a clear understanding of the key points underpinning the debate,

has inserted his personal and quite obviously prejudicial opinion into

an academic forum. In doing so, he has abused his responsibility to his

students, colleagues and university. He has also inflicted unnecessary pain on

people with Down syndrome and their families.

Down syndrome is the most common naturally occurring cause of developmental

delay. Occurring once in every 800 to 1000 live births, the syndrome affects

approximately 350,000 Americans. Down syndrome impacts people across an

extremely wide range, however it is rare for it to be, in fact, ruinous by any

definition.

The contrary is more often the case. NDSC Executive Director Tolleson

notes, “We are in constant contact with a large, vigorous national and

international community of people with Down syndrome, their families and the

professionals who support them. Additionally, published academic studies

have found that most people with a family member with Down syndrome consider

the experience to be a positive one.” Far from ruining lives, our

families consistently report that their sons, daughters or siblings with Down

syndrome enhance their lives and bring them great joy. A quick scan of the

internet will produce many examples of people with Down syndrome who are

embraced and valued by their families and communities. In the post

secondary world, people with Down syndrome increasingly attend college and take

their places as loyal, productive and valued employees.

We question how any of that can be termed " ruinous. "

We therefore ask Professor to retract his statement. In doing so, we

also request that the professor make an appropriate apology to his students,

explain clearly that his statement was a personal opinion and has no scientific

basis and make every effort to convey to them current, accurate facts regarding

Down syndrome. Should Professor decline to do so, we call upon the University

of North Carolina to investigate this incident and take appropriate

disciplinary action.

###