Palin encourages special needs families (and information on how to help families adopt children with Ds)

[Guest guest]

Palin encourages special needs families

by Wood — BP

WASHINGTON — One of the most valuable aspects of

Alaska Gov. Palin’s vice presidential candidacy was her focusing

national attention on the strengths and value of special needs children, says a

pro-life leader and mother of a special needs child.

" Her child, my child and every special needs child

are not to be pitied, " said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the

B. List, in a written statement. " What a salve to the soul that

Palin understands and articulates this. It brings so many special people and

their families out of the shadows and into the limelight. They have so much to

be proud of, and she helps them recognize that. "

Palin's fifth child, Trig, entered the world in April

prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome. Advocacy organizations, along with

parents of special needs children, agree that Palin helped raise awareness and

appreciation for children diagnosed with special needs.

What effect Trig Palin's national profile — and

his family's loving care for him — will have on the abortion rate for

babies diagnosed with Down syndrome remains to be seen. An estimated 90 percent

of unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted, as are a similar

percentage of babies diagnosed with spina bifida, cystic fibrosis and dwarfism,

Sen. Sam Brownback, R.-Kan., has said.

While Palin was in the midst of campaigning this fall,

Brownback and his allies were seeking passage of a bill to address the alarming

abortion rate for special needs children. In late September, Congress approved

Brownback's legislation to require doctors to provide accurate information and

data on support services for parents whose unborn children are diagnosed with

special needs. President Bush signed the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed

Conditions Awareness Act into law Oct. 8.

Prentice, senior fellow of life sciences at the

Family Research Council, said he hopes to see both Palin's national example and

the Brownback legislation help reduce abortion rates and change attitudes

toward those with disabilities.

" Even if all this did was save one life, it would

be well worth it, " Prentice said.

Dannenfelser believes it is too early to tell whether or

not the Palin and Brownback factors will help reduce abortion rates. She said

she hopes mothers will rise above the challenge when they have resources and

support.

There is no question and Trig Palin gave a boost

to families with special needs children. Parents of children with Down syndrome

and other conditions said Trig's entry onto the national scene made them feel

as if their voice had been heard for the first time.

" I was so happy when I heard about

Palin, " said Kadi Coe, a Michigan mother of a child with Down syndrome.

" When she was announced as [sen. McCain's] running mate, I was so

excited she would raise awareness about Down syndrome. I thought to myself,

'Hey, if she can do it, so can I.' "

Robin Steele, adoption awareness program coordinator for

the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati, sensed an atmosphere of

excitement in the Down syndrome community when Palin gave birth to Trig, months

before Palin was put on the Republican ticket. She said awareness of the

scenario was publicized to the whole community.

Since giving birth to Trig, Palin has said she views

children with special needs as a " joyful challenge " and

" priority, " rather than a burden. In a letter addressed to family and

friends after Trig's birth, Palin referred to her son as an " absolutely

perfect " baby.

Since Steele began working for the association 27 years

ago, she has seen an increase in interest among families to adopt Down syndrome

babies. She desires to see more.

" The first year I started my job, I got three calls

[from families interested in adoption], " Steele said. " Now, we get

three to five a week. I am very hopeful the number of adoptions will

increase. "

also has a passion for helping parents

adopt children with Down syndrome. She founded Reece's Rainbow, an

international adoption ministry for children with Down syndrome. It helped

facilitate 120 international adoptions for families in the last two years.

The ministry is a volunteered-based organization that

serves as a " vehicle " for people to make donations to families toward

the adoption process, told BP.

" We saw a need to raise awareness overseas, "

said , who lives in land. " To see the way those children are

lined up in cribs, American families just can't relate. The problem is never

ending.... Every child that we see has a voice now through Reece's Rainbow and

has a chance. "

The Christmas Tree Angel Project, which is the

organization's largest fundraiser of the year, lasts until Dec. 31. People have

a chance to go to the organization's website and sponsor a child.

" Every penny goes to save a child's life, "

said. " This is a way to really make a difference. "

Info: Christmas Tree Angel Project,

Reece's Rainbow