say my peace and be done with it.

I will start this post by saying I am a Feminist. It pains me to see a woman running for office and genuinely not like her. Not like what she stands for. As much as I loved Hillary, I learned quickly that this woman is no Hillary.

Someone recently wrote "wow. what a terrible thing to say about somebody" to me in a public forum. This person, who has two typical children, said this when I had written that sarah palin knows nothing about raising a child with special needs.

I don't like to get overly political on my blog (except perhaps a few remarks or quotes), but tonight I will say my peace. My forum. My words.

I have never been one to claim to know everything about the economy, taxes, healthcare, the war, etc. Don't get me wrong-- I have my opinions on all of these things and feel moderately informed. But when it comes to funding for children with special needs and education with regards to these children, I know the facts. I am very informed.

I will be the first to say that when Sarah Palin spoke those words during her acceptance speech I was touched.

"To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House."

As tears rolled down my cheeks I thought "thank you." Thank you to anyone that would finally talk about this very important and often "swept under the rug" issue. I wasn't sure Sarah Palin was someone I would support, but it was refreshing and wonderful to hear someone stand up for Noah. For all the kids that are segregated and discriminated against. From that moment on I started digging. Believe it or not, I wanted to like her. I wanted to vote for her. I wanted her to be someone that would finally stand up for everything I had hoped for. But she, like many before her in the political arena, let me down.

Here's where she stands regarding this topic:

Individuals with Disabilites Act is a federal law that mandates equal opportunity for kids with disabilites. Palin (McCain) offer NO increase in funding. Not one penny. Their opponents support an increase.

Sarah Palin shot down a bill in Alaska to support funding for healthcare for kids with special needs.

The Community Choice Act is a bill that was proposed that Obama not only supports, but co-sponsors. This would mean governemnt funding for home based services for individuals with disabilites. McCain and Palin BOTH oppose this. Not just "not support" they OPPOSE it.

One of the VPs (Sam Dickson) of the AAPD (American Association of People w/ Disabilites" has mixed feelings about Palin even discussing her son publicly because she has NO RECORD (even in the last 5 months) for supporting ANYTHING having to do with these kids.

I am just touching on the many things she's voted against. And as far as the list of bills she's supported... well, there's ... hmm, let's see... NOTHING.

So if I may... I would love the opportunity to ask Ms. Palin the following:

1. How do you plan to support the children with disabilities in the schools? The public schools are failing these children and because of it more and more children are being homeschooled. How will you make these children successful? Will you support additonal funding for these children?

2. Do you support increased funding to and the expansion of Medicaid Waiver programs to ensure that people with special needs can live and work in the community?

3. Would you be in favor of ensuring that services are provided to people with disabilities who need them, in spite of their IQ’s not being in the right “range”?

4. Are you in favor of additional funding supporting children with disabilities and services across the nation? When and how?

5. Health insurance companies turn down claims for services including medical testing, medicines, therapies, etc. every day in this country. How will you reform this?

6. How can you be in a community of childen with special needs and not see how embryonic stem cell research can help these children? It can offer a cure for some of them. It can change their lives. And these cells are thrown away daily--literally, thrown away.

Ms. Palin, so far you have done a great job in telling me you will be an advocate for my son. But I have yet to hear a plan. You have yet to back up one word you've said with so much as a detail. This leaves the community that I rally with and champion for left very, very disappointed. Maybe if you spent less time talking about dogs in lipstick and going to hockey games we could take a second to talk about the real issues. The issues you claim to fight for, but have said nothing about.


I have no doubt that in the years to follow Sarah Palin will fully understand what it means to be a mom of a special needs child. It is a gift with it's own set of hardships and rewards. But those of us residing in "Holland" know that we were chosen for this special journey. But she has not yet experienced even a fraction of what it means to be a mom to these special kids. Just because we love and accept our children more than life itself, doesn't mean the all of the world accepts them. That was a lesson that was tremendously difficult to realize. And I know she has yet to fully experience it.

I say it again. What is your plan Ms. Palin? WHAT IS YOUR PLAN?

And to mr. "I think you're terrible"-- thank you for reminding me that not everyone has to understand or empathize with my little boy. The difference is those that try to understand, that are supportive, that get off their soap box and ask questions. You reminded me how rare that is and how thankful I am to know who those people are.

What I have written above is enough for me to know how I feel about SP. But if that's not enough there is more to this woman:

Sarah Palin does not believe in evolution. She does not believe dinosaurs walked this earth. She does not believe in global warming. The melting of the arctic, the storms that are destroying our cities, the pollution and rise of cancers, are all part of God's plan (according to SP). She is fighting to take the polar bears off the endangered species list. She does not believe in abortion, even if a woman is raped. She shoots animals from the air... for sport. She's banned books from libraries. And she said herself of the Iraqi war, "It was a task from God." --are you kidding me?


19 days to go.
Be informed.
Vote.