A boy with Downsyndrome comforting Jesus during a Good Friday procession in Mexico ❤️ pic.twitter.com/gYjxSRjyRi
— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) April 16, 2022
Getting Dusty in Here
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
Beautiful.
I’ve noticed more acceptance of Down Syndrome children and adults in mainstream society over the past decade. Our department store Target in Australia (an offshoot of the American store, but ours sells clothes, toys and homewares only) uses Down Syndrome children to model clothes in their catalogues and images on storefronts. The images (however commercial) are pure joy. So have some other major companies followed suit. One of our local McDonalds stores had a Down syndrome employee who became a local legend. Hardworking and friendly- a true gem.
Down Syndrome individuals have no agenda or pretence to their actions- just the most honest and innocent and hardworking individuals you will ever meet.
There needs to be a trickle down in acceptance in the medical industry. Especially to do with pregnancy screening. I refused to have a CVS test in the first trimester in all my pregnancies. My doctor was not happy about that- but oh well.
Our family is blest to have a DS child among them. Hayden is 16 yrs old and the best friend his Dad ever had. Our boy is mostly silent but can show love like no other person I have ever known. I encourage ALL women to avoid ALL prenatal testing and just accept what God has in store for you. He knows what’s best for you.
As He does for us all. Each day I miss my autistic son Larry, gone nine years May 19. I can never understand how a parent can turn their back on a child, no matter their disability. What a treasure in disguise they lose!
I have read your posts on Larry with great admiration. Rarely do I find such a safe place to tell folks about my son. His Mom and I had him late in life but he has give new life and much more to live for. Plus he is the child who has not outgrown us.
As far as pre natal testing goes, it’s a neutral thing in itself that can be used for good or ill. Tragically, it is often used for the latter in that perceived detection of mental handicap is the cause for murdering the child in the womb. But it can also be used for good like helping parents prepare for what lies ahead. So, I think giving broad brushed discouragement is not wise.
The best interests of the child is paramount. If a couple is unwilling or unable to provide the child with care they need, they have no business maintaining custody.
This view was reinforced yesterday when I was attacked by a severely autistic teenage boy. This kid was about my height and about ten pounds heavier than me. Thankfully, I was able restrain him without hurting him, no thanks to the bystanders for whom an accurate description would require language not fit for mixed company. If self-defense required my striking him (something I did think might be necessary but thankfully not), those bastards probably would have jumped me. Some guy, who was not at all friendly to me, located his parents who were real pieces of work themselves, blaming me for the whole thing. When I tried to explain to them I was restraining the boy to thwart his attack, they tried telling I wasn’t attacked. How the hell did they know? They were nowhere around! I think that kid would be better off institutionalized (something I definitely not a fan of) than in the custody of a couple who would leave a mentally handicapped kid unattended in public.