Down Syndrome Goes Global

March 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

When our daughter Penny was a baby, I took her into Panera Bread at lunchtime. One of the women who worked there approached me. She said, “I love looking at your baby.” Penny has Down syndrome, and I’m never sure what to make of a comment about her appearance. But the woman went on to [...]

Filed Under: Disability, Down Syndrome, Faith Leave a Comment

Princeton, Raleigh/Durham, D.C., and Michigan, Here I Come

March 21, 2012 By 3 Comments

I’d love to meet some of you face to face, so I wanted to let you know about the times I’ll be speaking in the next month: Lawrenceville: Tonight, March 21, I will be leading a discussion about being a parent of a child with special needs in an age of exceptionality at the Special [...]

Filed Under: Books 3 Comments

World Down Syndrome Day and What I See in Penny

March 21, 2012 By 2 Comments
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Two hours after our daughter was born, she was diagnosed with Down syndrome. The pronouncement shocked and saddened me, but I also felt confused. I thought all people with Down syndrome looked the same: Flat nose. Thick neck. Epicanthal fold of skin around the eyes. Short stature. Cherubic expression. But I couldn’t see it. When [...]

Filed Under: Down Syndrome, family 2 Comments

Be Still and Know, Spirituality and Religion

March 20, 2012 By 1 Comment
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There’s a verse from Psalm 46 that summarizes the relationship between the practice of religion and the practice of spirituality: “Be still, and know that I am God.” It’s a prayer, an admonition, an encouragement. The two poles of this verse — be still, know God — together they offer a different way than the [...]

Filed Under: Faith, family 1 Comment

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: Responses to Readers about Down syndrome and wrongful birth

March 19, 2012 By 1 Comment
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I’m sure some of you have skimmed the comments over on the Huffington Post from last week’s article about Down syndrome and wrongful birth. But for those of you who haven’t, here are some of the best and worst, and one of my responses. (I should add that my response here is very matter-of-fact. I wrote [...]

Filed Under: Disability, Down Syndrome, family Tagged With: , 1 Comment