Our Story: 16 days, 18 National Park Service Sites, Everyone Survived

What follows is a travelogue of the trip out west I took with my twelve year old son and thirteen year old daughter. We drove over 4,000 miles, towing a travel trailer, for 16 days, crossing eight states, and visiting 18 National Park Service Sites. I hope you'll join me on this look back at our ride out west.  Continue Reading

10-year old Mexican girl with Down syndrome taken from mom under Trump policy illustrates injustice

Social media and news reports have been flooding in due to the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" immigration policy resulting in children being separated from family members attempting to enter the United States. The Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray has highlighted the case of a 10-year old girl with Down syndrome being separated from her mom, despite her father, a U.S. citizen, residing just 60 miles from where she was detained. This case illustrates injustice.  Continue Reading

DSPTP Episode 2: Why is it called “Down syndrome”?

In episode 2, I explain why a condition caused by the presence of a third 21st Chromosome is called "Down syndrome"?  Continue Reading

The #metoo epidemic no one talks about

The #metoo movement has brought down many powerful men who abused their positions to sexually harass and abuse women and men. NPR has a series on an epidemic of sexual assault that has been persistent, under reported, and rarely prosecuted.  Continue Reading

Eclipsing Down syndrome

On August 21, 2017, the first full solar eclipse spanned the continental United States. Our family was there to see it and the experience prompted this reflection on what the world is doing to those with Down syndrome.  Continue Reading

Persistent challenges: bigotry and ethical prenatal testing

A visit to National Park sites, a presentation to medical professionals in Kansas City, a violent protest in Charlottesville, and a news report out of Iceland all came together in less than a week as a reminder of the persistent challenge of our bigotry against our fellow human beings.  Continue Reading

Our Story: D.C. & Agitate. Agitate. Agitate. (3 of 3)

This is the third and final installment on our Spring Break trip to Washington, D.C. It concludes with an admonition on what those who would advocate for oppressed groups should do.  Continue Reading

Our Story: D.C. & Traveling with a Child with Down syndrome (2 of 3)

This is the second of three installments about our family's recent tour of D.C. for the kids' Spring Break. The first installment provided a rundown of the many sites we visited. This post will share a message for new and expectant parents of children with Down syndrome (but others may appreciate it as well). Continue Reading

Our Story: D.C. & Interconnected Lives (1 of 3)

Spring Break 2017 was spent touring the District of Columbia with an emphasis on National Parks Service sites. Here is the first of three posts inspired by that trip. This post is a rundown of the sites we visited and some of the highlights at each. The next post will have a message for new and expectant parents based on this trip. The final post will seek to learn from these history lessons and apply them to modern day advocacy efforts by and on behalf of those with Down syndrome.  Continue Reading