The Majority of Adoptions from China are now Special-Needs Children

The Durkins have now adopted two children with special needs,
though with problems that are correctable.

Since China has slackened it's strict one child per family law, the number of orphans, usually rejected girls, has gone down significantly. This is a good thing for the children, but for foreigners who wish to adopt, the waiting list for healthy children has tripled to 4 years. Many are now choosing to adopt a child with special needs instead now. Perhaps it is the shorter wait period, of only a year. Perhaps it is because they wish to provide care to a child who wouldn't normally get it. Either way, China's rate of birth defects has increased almost 50% between 2001 and 2006. And since many families believe the children to be bad luck, or wish them to get care that they can't provide, the majority of these children end up in orphanages. Luckily, there are many American families waiting in the wings, who are sure to provide the best care possible for the children that need it most, because they have had to go through a rigorous screening process. This strikes me as a bit odd, because in the United States, with more and more genetic tests becoming available to us every day, many children with disabilities are aborted. People don't usually chose to care for a child who will never live up to the social standard of normal. But luckily for the children there are the rare few who will. Every child matters.

Indiana Cuts Funds for Special Needs Foster Children

Indiana is proposing to move kids with behavioral, emotional, and medical problems into cheaper care. Where it used to be that families fostering children with special needs got up to $100 dollars a day (for therapy, clothes, food, etc), now they will only get $25 a day. This will undoubtedly cause fewer families to want to take in special needs kids, and the state will end up with more children in need of homes. This cut would save the state $56 million, but I predict that it will cause more problems than solutions. It is unfortunate, that California also, has cut funding to child services. These are the kids that need the most attention. The long term repercussions are not evident at the moment, but I don't think that any good can come out of a situation like this one.

Sweet Studies: Chocolate and Heart Health

Labels : Health

New Laws to Protect Kids with Pre-existing Conditions

Gladys Soto with her son and daughter

The new health care law prohibits insurance companies from refusing to cover kids with pre-existing conditions. This is great for families with special needs children. In the term 'pre-existing, I would imagine it would encompass mental disorders as well, though many mental disorders have physical side effects that in the past, insurance agencies have used as a basis to refuse coverage. The article tells the unfortunate story of Gladys Soto, who was unable to ensure her family, after losing her job, and being told that the cost of insuring her son with asthma would be more than she could afford. Many other families are familiar with this unfortunate predicament. With the new health care law though, insurance agencies will be getting many more customers which will eliminate the need to charge extra for individuals with pre-existing conditions. The article was not clear whether they will be required to not charge extra, only that they will be unable to refuse to cover, but it is my hope that equal health care coverage will be available to all, regardless of any problems they may have.

Mental Health Break- New Mode of Transportation

From Kludges

This makes me wonder if it is a faster way to travel, but I am guessing that steering would be problematic. And if any hills were present, this may be a mistake. Regardless, this looks like tons of fun.

Patients with Down Syndrome may Offer new insite to Ageing

Marybeth Solinski, has down syndrome, and just celebrated her 59th birthday

Typically, people with down syndrome do not live to the normal life expectancy. They often age faster, and this has opened a window for scientists on how we age in general, because it can be inferred that chromosome 21 plays a significant role, since people with down syndrome have three copies of chromosome 21. There is also an extremely high rate of Alzheimers in people with down syndrome, but also an increased ability for the brain to repair and compensate for the brain plaques and tangles indicative of the disease. This ability reveals another gene possibly located on chromosome 21 that scientists may be able to utilize in treatment of other brain disorders in the future.

Stem Cells a Possible Treatment for Autism?

Lauen DiCorcia, who has been helped by Stem Cell Therapy

In Germany, they are now offering a treatment for Autism using Stem Cells. One story of Success is Lauen DiCorcia, who received stem cells from her hip bone marrow reinserted via lumbar puncture. Her parents say the results were immediate, and she was able to sleep through the night for the first time shortly after the treatment, among other things. But with a disease like Autism, it is hard to know if an improvement has occurred because of a treatment, or coincidence. Parents are desperate for even the slightest improvement, and can often attribute improvement to treatment, even though that is not always the case. To prove that this treatment would work, you would have to do a double blind test, with two patients, and have one get the stem cells, and one not, but not have anyone know which was which but the research scientists. The article did not say if such a test has been done yet or not, and since this is from a site advocating Stem Cell research, it would definitely be bias.

T-shirt with an attempt at a message

Picture from One More Beautiful Sunrise

As One More Beautiful Sunrise has already stated, this t-shirt can be interpreted as extremely offensive. I noticed though, that it is also without an ounce of logic. Of course the people that are for abortion have already been born, those who are not yet born can't have an opinion, they are for the most part, just a clump of cells. Their brains are not yet able to even control their bodily functions, let alone have opinions on abortion. If Reagan was trying to say that those who are going to be born will be pro life, than he should notice that everyone is born, but not everyone is pro life, obviously. People really should think before they talk, and especially if they are quoting someone.

Legalizing Marijuana Will be on the California Ballot

California is leading the way to legalizing Marijuana, and we do need it probably the most now too. It would generate much needed revenue for California. Luckily a poll from April of 2009 showed that about 56% of Californians support it, and I would guess that since we have cut back even more on our spending since then, more may be in favor now. The argument against it is that it will cause more automobile accidents, but my guess is that it will probably go up, but will not be any different than the rate of drunk driving accidents. If people are arguing to keep Marijuana illegal, maybe they should also be arguing that alcohol shouldn't be legal either. But seeing as that didn't work out so well in the twenties, I think it is time to change our perspective.

What happens when you forget your handoprompter...

She will never live down the handoprompter. People are also referring to her now as 'Caribou Barbie'. I guess 'Wolf slayer equip with helicopter' just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Palin on Having Son with Down Syndrome

Palin's Past Promises

Nancy Lannone and her Daughter Gabriella, who has down syndrome.

Nancy was hopeful after hearing Palin's promises during the 2008 presidential election

During the 2008 presidential elections, Sarah Palin said during a speech that children who have special needs would "have a friend and advocate in the White House". But after this emotional speech, in which her son, Trig, who has down syndrome was shown, Palin failed to elaborate as to what this "friendship" would do to benefit those with special needs. Nevertheless, parents of children with special needs were tempted by those words. It would be a new experience for them to have someone in the white house who was going through the same thing they were, and who would understand on a deeply personal level the challenges of raising a child with special needs. This is exactly the strategy the Republicans were going for. I find it unfortunate that Trig was used essentially to get more votes. In Alaska, Sarah Palin has signed legislation for children with special needs, but she did not take part in writing the legislation at all. Odd, considering that this would seem to be an issue that would hit close to home for her. It will be interesting to see if she runs for president, if this controvertial issue will be an essential part of her campaign or not.

Michelle Obama takes on the Giants

The food giants, to be exact. At a meeting of the Grocery Manufacturers Association on Tuesday, she asked corporate giants such as General Mills, Coca Cola, and Kraft to produce more healthy food and stop adding extra sugar and salt to foods that are "non-fat". If nicely asking corporations to comply will work, the future only knows but there have been some hopeful signs. Some corporations have already taken initiative to produce healthier products. But Obama says that still, 70% of foods marketed to kids are among the least healthy. Hopefully Obama's message will be taken seriously. The need for a food reform is growing increasingly necessary in the United States and also in the world. Hopefully this will boost the production of organic products, which will not only benifit people, but the environment too.

Manatee Squash

Clean glass can be a safety hazard.

Time is of the Essence for Health Care Reform

As a two week break for congress looms on the horizon, the pressure for passing the health care bill is building, because if it has to wait till after the break, it will lose much needed steam. While democrats are more interested in passing something, republicans are criticizing process instead of substance. But speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi is confident she will be able to get the necessary 216 votes to pass the house version.

The dangers of Golfing- attack trained Cacti!!!!

My only question is why the guys trying to help him are wearing latex gloves... those don't provide much protection
picture from Fail Blog

Biden's visit to Israel

Video in which President Benjamin Netanyahu expresses his gratitude to the United States for helping to start placing sanctions on Iran, so as to hopefully help curb their nuclear program.

Soda Tax

Clinton speaking during a news conference

In New York, there has been a push to end the selling of soda and other fattening beverages in schools, and to charge a soda tax to help end obesity, and aid budget problems. The guidelines would still allow for 100% juice drinks, water, and low-fat milk to be sold in elementary and middles schools, and for diet beverages, teas, and sports drinks with a certain number of calories to be sold in high schools. This, I think will make a huge difference for both the education system, the health care system, and the budget problems. For the education system, it will mean less badly behaved sugar high kids to deal with, and will allow teachers to spend more time teaching and less time dealing with kids who can't sit still. For health care, the effects will be felt over time, but it will hopefully lead to a decrease in obesity, and the many health problems that accompany it. This will also provide another source of income for the government, which is greatly needed at this time. I personally think they should start taxing all food items that have a certain amount of sugar in them. This would bring in even more revenue, help end the obesity epidemic, and help steer people towards foods that will be better for them in the long run.

Thinking in Pictures

Temple Grandin, a professor at Colorado State University, is a doctor and professor in animal science, a writer, and is also autistic. But although Autism causes many problems, in her case, it has helped her to be able to understand animals on a level that is beyond the norm. As she puts it, "I think in pictures, not words" which is the same way that animals think, she claims. Her ability to connect with animals on such a unique level has led her to improve slaughter houses so that they are a less stressful place for the animals, and also, after observing that a cow would become calmer once it was in a squeeze chute, she invented a squeeze machine to treat people with autism. "Therapists have found that deep presure over large areas of the nervous system help relieve anxiety when the nervous system is all hyped up" says Temple. I think this is true for not only individuals with autism, but with others as well. Anyone who has experienced a hug would know what I'm talking about. Grandin's life gives people with autism and other conditions hope that although they are dibilitated in some areas of life, that is no reason that they can't excel in others.

Temple Grandin- Helping Us to Understand the Autistic World.

A movie by BBC, entitled "The woman who thinks like a cow"

Campaigne to end the "R-Word"

A nation wide campaign has been launched to persuade people, especially high school students, to remove the r-word, retard, from their vocabulary. This is a campaign that I believe is long overdue. The word has taken on a negative connotation, while in the past, it was used to describe people with special needs. Now that is used as an insult, it hurts those who have special needs, and those who love them as well. The campaign called "Spread the word to end the word" is now spreading nation wide. At my school, although we don't bring specific attention to this specific bit of foul language, we have a blanket ban on degrading, racial, ethnic, and homophobic remarks which does bring attention to this cause though not directly mentioning it. Their web site is http://www.r-word.org/

Republicans Resent the Resort to Reconciliation

Democrats seem ready to trade House seats for healthcare reform / The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com. Relying on the prediction that once the health care reform gets passed, the public will react favorably toward it, Democrats have made the gutsy move to push health care through, at all costs, even, it is rumored, using reconciliation, which the republicans are calling "a trick". They are forgetting the fact that it was used by the last administration to pass the bush tax cuts. Whether this will pay off for the Democrats or not remains to be seen.

Obama makes a powerful statement

YouTube - Obama on Health Care: "Let's Get It Done"#watch-main-area