Advocating Special Needs

By Janet Hinz.

The Washington Post published Kathleen Parker’s editorial, “Sarah Palin should beware of exploiting her youngest child” on Sunday, February 14, 2010.  Since when is advocating for your child considered exploitation?

Sarah Palin’s youngest child, Trig, has Down syndrome and she’s become a fierce advocate for special needs children.  It’s true that Palin doesn’t hide Trig like people used to do with children like him. Palin is unapologetic about her causes and convictions.  She doesn’t seem to hide anything and that is part of why she is so persuasive. The National Down Syndrome Society’s mission is, “to be the national advocate for the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.”  Palin is advocating for Trig and others like him.

There is a need for advocacy.  Last month, President Obama’s Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel used the word “retarded” in a private meeting.  He’s received great criticism for his insensitivity and Palin even said he should be fired.  Palin is very passionate about the use of this word.  She said, “Just as we’d be appalled if any public figure of Rahm’s stature ever used the ‘N-word’ or other such inappropriate language, Rahm’s slur on all God’s children with cognitive and developmental disabilities — and the people who love them — is unacceptable, and it’s heartbreaking.”

Emanuel has apologized publicly and privately to Special Olympics chairman Tim Shriver for using the word “retarded.”  This is not the first time the White House has come under fire for offending this group, however.  In March of 2009, Obama himself made a joke about his bowling skills by referring to them as worthy of the Special Olympics on The Tonight Show.

The word “retarded” is offensive.  In the past, it was used frequently and is now often used in slang as a form of slur particularly among young people.  That doesn’t excuse its use, however.  As our society evolves, so does our language.   A person who scores below about a 70 on IQ tests is now called a person with an intellectual disability.

While some object to political correctness, our words matter.  We would not call a person who has the flu, “a flu,” so we should not call a person who has paralysis of the legs “paralyzed.”  We put the person first rather than the condition.  He or she is a person with paralysis.  This change in phrasing makes a big difference.  A medical condition does not define a person or sum up everything he or she is.  This is the reason for the change.

In Parker’s editorial, she questions if Palin’s convictions demand expression.  Those who cannot speak must be represented.  Parker asks, “Might Trig someday read his mother’s abortion thoughts and find them hurtful?”

Trig will one day read his mother’s honest initial doubts about whether she could care for a special needs child when she learned her baby would have Down syndrome.  He will then see her tireless advocacy and compassion and be filled with pride.

It’s so very important to have someone with Palin’s notoriety speak out for special needs children and I feel her passion is genuine.  After all, mothers become fierce when it comes to protecting and advocating for their children. This is something we’ve seen with Jenny McCarthy advocating for children with autism because of her son’s struggles. Mattie Stepanek’s mother continues to speak out for her son and those like him years after his death. Do we call these actions exploitation?  No, we call them advocacy.  It just seems like Palin is criticized because of her political affiliation.

Celebrity status helps to raise awareness and advance policy. The average mother of a special needs child living in middle America doesn’t get the same attention as Palin does, but her convictions and passion for change are the same.

Critical thinkers do need to question things and that is why I end with the question with which I began.  Since when does advocating for your special needs child become exploitation?

Janet Hinz is a college instructor and writer who hosts an Internet radio show, Critical Thinking in the Real World.   She earned her Master of Arts in Writing from Johns Hopkins University.  Janet began her career working for a congressman on Capitol Hill and then moved over to the world of lobbying.  It was through these jobs that she learned about the power of grassroots initiatives, media relations and public speaking.

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