Good Backgrounder on Down Syndrome

Journalist Patricia Baer offers an insightful Q&A about Down Syndrome and the impact Gov. Palin's experience may have on our nation's policies. It's an objective, balanced look at a lot of medical and social issues.

Question 7: Since John McCain picked a running mate who has a child with a disability, should we assume the McCain campaign is going to make a lot of expensive promises to the disability community?

Answer: That doesn't seem likely. Advocates for people with disabilities and their families tend to be looking for universal health care and adequate funding for Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security -- not the traditional domains of the Republican Party. While the Obama campaign website has an extensive section devoted to issues of concern to people with disabilities, the McCain campaign site does not.