We are happy to bring to you the stories and interviews, from local, state, U.S., and World-wide announcements of Down syndrome education, research, awareness, and community involvement through media, newspapers, articles, etc.
Video of Texas House Discussion The clip with discussion of our issue is at 2 hours and 38 minutes into the May 5th 1:30-9:46pm link
Press Conference May 5th 11:15 am
On Thursday, May 5 at 11:15 AM DSACT will hold a press conference outside the House of REperesentative Chamber (2nd floor Capitol building) announcing its opposition to CSHB 15 for its failure to protect the lives of babies with disabilities.
The Texas House and Senate have both passed CSHB 15. While this bill generally imposes restrictions on abortion, it targets fetuses suspected of having a disability for easier abortion. CSHB 15 requires that a sonogram and opportunity to hear the fetal heartbeat be offered to a pregnant woman before she can proceed with an abortion, but she can refuse these options. She generally can’t refuse, however, to listen to the physician’s description of the sonogram image, including dimensions of the fetus, presence of a heartbeat, and presence of limbs and organs. But the doctor can skip this step if the fetus is the result of incest, rape or is likely to have an irreversible medical condition or abnormality. In other words, a disability. “Irreversible medical condition” is a condition that may be treated but never cured, affects the ability to live independently, and requires medication or medical equipment to sustain life. That means if spina bifida or Down syndrome or cerebral palsy are diagnosed prenatally, then they would be lumped in with pregnancies resulting from rape or incest.
“In the name of protecting the unborn, this law is actually a new form of eugenics” said Suzanne Shepherd, DSACT Past President, and mother of a 13 year boy with Down syndrome. “What a sad day for Texas children with disabilities to be officially designated as less worthy of life than other children.”
List of Invited Speakers:
DSACT - Suzanne Shepherd and Gerard Jimenez
Senators Zaffirini, Watson, West, and Lucio
Representatives Eiland, John Davis, Truitt, Raymond and Naishtat
Austin American-Statesman - Suzanne Shepherd - Feb 15, 2010
Shepherd is president of the Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas. Jack is a sixth-grader at a local middle school.
A father's special story..."My little girl recently competed in Special Olympics for the first time. She was so excited and she did so well. The event she won was all her. She did all on her own. As volunteers we couldn't help at all. We're so proud of her. We were fortunate that The Daily Texan chose to a video story on Sofia in the days leading up to the event and the day of the event. Below you will find link to the story." - Gerard Jimenez, DSACT Legislative Affairs Sofia's equestrian journey from Juan Elizondo on Vimeo.
Washington Post - Feb 24, 2010
MILAN (Reuters) - A Milan court has convicted three Google Inc executives for the 2006 transmission of a video showing the bullying of a youth with Down Syndrome..
