A couple of months ago the Nova Scotia political blog contrarian.ca hosted a discussion of medical research into a potential treatment for some of the cognitive aspects of Down Syndrome.  My wife, Jenn Power, and I both contributed to that discussion.  Jenn's post was recently picked up by a New York Times blog on parenting and a lively discussion has ensued.  Virtually all of the posters to this discussion assume that Down Syndrome is a terrible disease, and to turn down a potential medical intervention would be child abuse.  So far only one person with a disability (muscular dystrophy) has commented.

What is always missing from these types of discussions is the voice of self-advocates.  The New York Times is obviously a very prominent institution, and this is a great opportunity to advance the understanding of disability in society.  I hope those of us who are in L'Arche in Canada might add to this discussion.  I fervently hope that someone, somewhere in L'Arche in Canada will know a person who has Down Syndrome who would like to contribute to the discussion his or herself.