Well, it's that time of year again...time to talk politics. Most of you who know me also know my politically left leanings, but it's not every election that we have someone with direct experience with disability running for office.
And indeed, Governor Palin has briefly mentioned this as part of her platform -- that she now 'knows what it's like' and will fight the good fight on behalf of all of us moms around the country.
Without getting into political rhetoric over her previous record with regards to disability funding, I will ask if Sarah Palin can ever know disability as many of us have known it.
For one, she has resources that most of us do not have:
- She has money. While not the only thing families need to help their children, having enough cash to secure good services is a blessing most of us do not have. We make decisions about whether to send one child to an enrichment camp or whether to go on a family vacation, because we cannot do both. I doubt that the Palin's will have this problem.
- She has connections. Really, can you imagine a Special Ed director denying services to her daughter? No. Nuff said.
- She has an extended family nearby. Some of us are lucky enough to have family who can help out, but many of us scramble to find respite care. Others of us simply put our lives on hold while we raise our children -- because, unlike what Ms. Palin states -- we really cannot have it all. At least, not all at once.
Another issue which has been brought up in other forums is the fact that she really does not know -- YET -- what it is like to raise a child with a disability. When she made this statement, her Down Syndrome son was four months old. To parents of older children, her comments were both insulting and humiliating. She doesn't know yet -- she doesn't understand the struggles at a visceral level.
That, indeed, will come later.
If she and McCain win, will it make a difference? It's difficult to tell at this point. I do know that in ten years from now, she will have a vastly different concept of what it is to raise one of these special children. And I wish her all my patience, love, and support, even if I'm not voting for her.
