When science hands us a way to pre-natally diagnose Autism, the horror will be unspeakable. And its coming.
Our friend Leticia reminds us to be careful when we donate to disabilities charities. With some charities, the bulk of the funds goes to pre-natal diagnosis. Of course, the reality of the matter is that R&D into pre-natal diagnosis is usually not about a cure. As Leticia puts it, “AKA search and destroy techniques to kill babies with the disability. Not curing our children who already have the disability. “
This is what happened with March of Dimes.
Such was the case with the March of Dimes and abortion of babies with Down syndrome in the 1970’s and the same thing is happening now that Autism may soon be prenatally diagnosed.
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The National Down Syndrome Society and National Down Syndrome Congress both call themselves pro-choice as well. We already have a 90% abortion rate of our children, yet they stand silently by about it.
If or when they can effectively pre-natally diagnose Autism or even just susceptibility to Autism, abortion will be the solution and the carnage will be unspeakable.
BigGovernment.com is on the story of the very highly paid head of Autism speaks being appointed to Obama’s Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee IACC.
Ridiculously high compensation is not the only reason to be concerned with Dawson’s appointment and Autism Speaks. The IACC provides advice to Sebelius regarding Federal activities related to autism spectrum disorder. (ASD). They also exchange information on and coordinate activities among the member agencies and organizations. Dawson’s employment by Autism Speaks ensures that their agenda will be carried out. Instead of funding services for families and individuals, Autism Speaks’ operating budget goes primarily towards research on the cause of autism, much of it devoted to finding particular genes with an eye to developing a prenatal test. As families of children with Down Syndrome are aware, the existence of prenatal testing for autism means a vast increase in the eugenic abortion of children with autism before they are born.
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Geraldine Dawson is part of a movement determined to eradicate people with autism from our society. We need more respect and understanding when it comes to the autism community. Sebelius’ choice to appoint Dawson to the IACC does not represent the hope and change that many in the autism community were expecting.
Dark days are ahead. Very dark days.
May 17, 2010 at 4:45 am
I have 3 friends who between them have 4 sons diagnosed with autism. One of my friends has a son who was diagnosed with autism at 2.5 years. This means he is severly low functioning. He is now twelve and they are unable to potty-train him. He also is not verbal. And yet, he is so beautiful. It dawned on me, in a recent encounter with him, that he cannot sin. My very good friend has a son who cannot sin.
Through her son, my friend has been given a great grace. To abort a child as this would be to turn down the grace God so freely offers.
May 17, 2010 at 7:06 am
I just went to my son's graduation from St. John's University in Queens. The commencement speakers were the couple who founded Autism Speaks. Everything they said was about helping families, and helping find a cure. They said nothing about prenatal diagnosis and abortion. I was liking them and thinking this was a good thing. How very distressing to come home and find out I was fooled and that this is another situation of a Catholic college having an inappropriate commencement speaker!
Susan Peterson
May 17, 2010 at 1:32 pm
SherryTex puts it well: the ONLY reason why prenatal testing on such things as Down's Syndrome is so that the woman can consider abortion. There is no purpose for it otherwise.
May 17, 2010 at 3:44 pm
It's entirely possible the founders don't know. I don't know of any nation wide groups, but I do know the little home-town groups I've been in, the folks who start them have to get help, then the help needs help as it grows– and it's about the third "needs help" that something changes, if they don't know to look out for it.
May 17, 2010 at 4:48 pm
I'd like to know if my unborn baby has Downs Syndrome–but only for about the same reason I'd want to know if I were having twins–so I could be prepared when the little ones were born. I wouldn't love my baby–or babies–any less, but I'd like know ahead of time. I'd like to have the time to do some homework on Down Syndrome or other challenges my baby might have before he's born. From what I've learned from other moms of Downs Syndrome babies and of twins, having some time to adjust to the news before the baby arrives on the scene can be a big help. Guess it depends on how you use that time, though.
I would, however, have a problem with a law that required those prenatal tests (rather than keeping them available but optional), especially since so many doctors (don't know if they're told to do this or not) are quick to suggest an abortion as the solution.
May 17, 2010 at 5:25 pm
SarahL-
wrongful life lawsuits. Same reason why my pro-life doctors had me sign that I had rejected a wide range of tests for things that couldn't be fixed. They were totally on board with answering questions along the lines of "is there any risk for my baby?" (with the fluid-based one, there was) and "is there in benefit for my baby?" but they had to protect themselves, too.
May 17, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Killing an autistic person is the same as killing someone who isn't autistic. Killing a human is killing a human and that will never change.
May 19, 2010 at 1:30 pm
I just want to add my two cents about prenatal testing for Downs. When I was pregnant, I wasn't sure I wanted the test. My OB at a Catholic hospital and her nurse said, "It is up to you, but we encourage it so that parents can be ready if they are having a baby with special needs." I explained that I would never ever terminate a pregnancy, and I think they were a little shocked because, as the nurse said, "We don't think like that around here. We'd never encourage that" Whether or not that's actually true, and I certainly hope it is, I felt a lot better. I did get the test because if I was bringing home a baby with additional needs, I would want to be prepared with additional eduction, a plan, prayers from friends and family, extra food in the freezer…
Science is not the enemy. Misused science is.