Welcome to Week 7's posting on students with autism spectrum disorders/pervasive developmental disorders. An audio of the chapter has been provided. For the chapter audio, ignore references in the audio to week numbers, dates, chapter numbers, page numbers, assignments, the discussion board,names...thank you. The core of the audio speaks to the current chapter topic in your edition of the text book. https://edocs.uis.edu/jherr3/www/TEP224F2010/TEP224Ch7.mp3 .
Definition of "developmental disability" - the definition of developmental disabilities is as follows:
"...physical or mental disabilities that impair the person's functioning in language, learning, mobility, self-care, or other important areas of living, ranging from mild to severe."
Mental Retardation Mental retardation falls under the category of a developmental disability, with Down syndrome being the most recognized of this group mostly characterized by their slow rate of learning.
The following excerpt is from Professor Jerome Lejeune, Nobel Prize Winner, Discoverer of the gene for Down syndrome
"Many years ago, my father was a Jewish physician in Braunau, Austria. On a particular day, two babies had been delivered by one of his colleagues. One was a fine, healthy boy with a strong cry. His parents were extremely proud and happy. The other was a little girl, but her parents were extremely sad, for she was a mongoloid [Down syndrome] baby. I followed them both for almost fifty years. The girl grew up, living at home, and was finally destined to be the one who nursed her mother through a very long and lingering illness after a stroke. I do not remember her name. I do, however, remember the boy's name. He died in a bunker in Berlin. His name was Adolf Hitler."
Click here for a personal Saga of a child with Downs syndrome: A couples' story: http://www.downsyn.com/personal.html .
It used to be that the definition of mental retardation was restricted to below average IQ scores, however, according to the text, students who are diagnosed as mentally retarded have limited function in four areas:
intellectual - below average IQ in the range of 70-75 or below.
adaptive behavior - inability or delay in being able to function independently in society.
devleopmental period - limitations in intellectual and adaptive behavior relative to age appropriated behaviors before the age of 18 years.
systems of support - unless mentally retarded students are provided mega-support from teachers, parents, specialists, they are not as capable of operating as a sustainable functioning person in society. (Vaughn, et al, p. 163, 2007)
Mental retardation now is classified as mild (IQ 50-55 to 70-75); moderate (IQ 35-40 to 50-55); severe (IQ 20-25 to 35-40); and profound (IQ below 20-25) (Vaughn, et al, p. 163, 2007)
Read Matthew's story: http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs8txt.htm )
originate as a result of poverty stricken environments, neglect and abuse! 1 in 30 newborns will experience head injuries as a result of neglect! Students born in poverty stricken environments have an increased chance of being lead poisoned, underfed, polluted by harmful environs, abused, underinsured therefore not receiving appropriate medical attention. The majority of these cases are students who are mildly retarded, but require intervention strategies in order to be successful in the regular education classroom.
Characteristics of students with developmental disabilities: Students with developmental disabilities generally learn slower and learn less than other students. A report cited that "the characteristics of developmental disabilities are 'physical or mental impairments that begin before age 22, and alter or substantially inhibit a person's capacity to do at least three of the following: take care of themselves (dress, bathe, eat, and other daily tasks), speak and be understood clearly, learn, walk/move around, make decisions, live on their own, and/or earn and manage an income.'" See http://www.bostoncares.org/news/issuebriefs/disabilities.pdf to read more.)
What Are the Signs of Mental Retardation?
See: http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs8txt.htm ).
What are some strategies for dealing with developmentally disabled students?: Below are tips for both parents and educators as offered by the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY stands for the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities ????) website at http://www.nichcy.org/index.html .
Pragmatically Speaking - How to use this information in the classroom:
Learn about mental retardation. The more you know, the more you can help yourself and students.
Share skills students are learning at school with parents, so that they can extend those learning opportunities at home. For example, if such students are learning how to count money, have parents allow them to help count out the money at the grocery store.
Keep in touch with the parent(s).
Find out what student's strengths are and capitalize on those. Create success opportunities.
If you are not part of the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) team, ask for a copy of his or her IEP. The student's educational goals will be listed there, as well as the services and classroom accommodations he or she is to receive.
Talk to specialists in your school (e.g., special educators), as necessary. They can help you identify effective methods of teaching this student, ways to adapt the curriculum, and how to address the student's IEP goals in your classroom.
Be as concrete as possible. Demonstrate what you mean rather than just giving verbal directions. Rather than just relating new information verbally, show a picture. And rather than just showing a picture, provide the student with hands-on materials and experiences and the opportunity to try things out.
Break longer, new tasks into small steps. Demonstrate the steps. Have the student do the steps, one at a time. Provide assistance, as necessary.
Give the student immediate feedback.
Involve the student in group activities or clubs.
25 comments:
The quote “I look forward to the day when a mongolian idiot, treated biochemically, becomes a successful geneticist” can be taken somewhat cynical and mean, but also uplifting. When I first read it, I was shocked by the term of “idiot” that was used to describe someone with Down syndrome (Mongolian). The professor that spoke this quote spent his life being involved with children with Down syndrome. He worked with many people in chromosome health, and wanted to cure Down syndrome. I do not like the fact that he used the term “idiot” in the quote but back when they were first discovering Down syndrome the doctors used harsh language to describe it. Now, people use more socially acceptable terms when describing the syndrome. I think the professor was just trying to put an uplifting tone on his hopes for the future of the people with the syndrome. Simply stated, he hopes that the children with Down syndrome eventually receive a cure and do something great with their lives. If you click on the quote it brings you to the story of a couple with the fetus with Down syndrome. The father said he wants his son to grow up like the young man in the diner who pulls a gun and robs it. It is just a point that children with Down syndrome may not grow up to be geniuses, but can grow to be caring people that can make a difference in their own way. The professor just wanted a cure and wanted the children who receive that cure to make a difference as well.
I first read this quote and didn't understand why this man, the same one who has worked with many Mongolian (Down Syndrome) people in his lifetime, would say they are idiots. Then, I realized he is more than likely talking about how other people perceive them and not him himself. I think this is actually a very inspiring thing to say because he knows deep down that one day, DS patients can and will change the world. He seems to be one of those people who doesn't accept things at face value and he believes in people with disabilities and knows that they are just as capable as those of us without any. Also, I think he is saying that people diagnosed with DS, like many people who get any kind of disease, will find some sort of passion in standing up for others with the disease. They will be some of the most likely ones to want to change the lives of others who have the disease so that they can be cured, which is what a geneticist would be trying to do in their own work. I just really like the fact that he says this as if he's being hurtful, when really he's being defiant to those who don't think people with DS will amount to much of anything. We already know that they are reliable, if you recall the story about the two kids born at the beginning of this chapter. Clearly he is saying that those with DS are better off in at least one aspect, because they most likely won't turn out like Adolf Hitler!
The term “Mongolian idiot” is an old term for a person with metal retardation or, more specifically, Down syndrome. I believe the quote is referring to the hope that one day there will be a cure for Down syndrome. It seems the Professor’s hope is that, when applied, the cure will provide a total reversal of the genetic disorder so that all avenues will be open to those that are afflicted.
Down syndrome centers around a chromosomal problem. So, right now the only medical care available focuses on the treatment of the symptoms. A person with Down syndrome is at an increased risk of having congential heart disease, leukemia, immune system issues, developmental problems, and many others. Because of this, frequent doctor visits, along with medication, surgery, and even counseling are all necessary to help counteract the possible problems.
I am certainly not a doctor, but I cannot see a “silver bullet” type cure that would totally reverse the affects of Down syndrome, especially in those that are older. If there were to be such a cure, it would probably offer the greatest benefit to the unborn, or perhaps even very young children since the disorder would not have progressed very far. It is certainly an interesting premise and one that would be an amazing achievement if it ever comes to pass.
Yes, yes, yes! I look forward to that day also. This quote is pure genius and probably would not have ended up in my education if it were worded any other way. Albert Einstein once said, "If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants". My view on Jerome Lejeune's quote is that the professor could see farther than most when it came to a child with a disability, in particular Down syndrome. The shoulders he was standing on must have been that child's. Although Jerome Lejeune never found the cure for down syndrome, I believe he found something nearly as profound. He found that regardless of a disability, one is able to learn and contribute to society in many more ways than most people will ever realize. I have always believed that every child can learn and by simply looking at the world through their eyes gives us a chance to discover that world and learn as well.
Professor Jerome Lejeune is absolutely right when he said this sentence. I truly hope for a day when any child born with a genetic disease can be successfully treated and become a great person working at the job of his or her dream. Just like from the quote earlier that professor Lejeune said, no one really knows what a person will be like when they grow up. A child with Down syndrome can grow up to be a gentle and kind person while a child without any genetic problems could grow up and commit crimes. With the correct treatment for Down syndrome, those children can become more independent.
I do not like how he uses the term “idiot” in his quote. I think it demeans children with Down syndrome and implies that they are stupid and do not know how to do anything on their own. However, back in the days when he said “idiot” there was not as much political correct way to say things. Therefore when he said it, people were probably not as upset as they would be today if he said it these days. Still, his quote does invoke a sense of inspiration for those parents of children with Down syndrome and the children with Down syndrome too.
My first thought is that it's funny that Dr. Lejeune would hope for the "mongoloid" to be a geneticist, since that is obviously his profession. However, I feel it's a very appropriate analogy to make, because Downs is a genetic disorder. Sometimes, your own problems in life make you better able to appreciate what needs to be done.
It also shows how Dr. Lejeune feels toward the kids he works with. It’s obvious he cares for them, and has high hopes for both his work and for the kids. While it doesn’t outrage me as much as some, I wondered at his use of the term idiot, when the rest of his sentence and his life really show that he cared about the children. I’m guessing it was just unfortunately the terms used at the time.
This quote led me to learn more about the good Doctor.
Dr. Lejeune was alive and doing his work in the 1950s, which really surprised me. I never realized that downs syndrome was such a newly discovered disease. Plus, with the use of the term "mongoloid" I really had the impression that this doctor was from a much earlier time period. He's also the one who discovered the links between folic acid and pregnancy. It amazes me how far we have come in science and medicine in such a short period of time. It’s also interesting to note that he was a devoted Catholic, and is currently being considered for sainthood.
Dr. Lejeune spent most of his career working to help find information about Down syndrome. He is the one that found there is an extra chromosome in those affected by DS. He was so well known and respected for his work that he was even given an award by President Kennedy. When first reading the quote I could see how someone would get angry at the thought of someone calling a child with DS and idiot. This is not the case. If you do a little research you will find that basically this term was used before they gave the name Down syndrome. Since Dr. Lejeune helped with a lot of research within the field of DS, he was used to using the term Mongolian Idiot. It was a term that was accepted back then until it was replaced with DS later on. He was not using the term as a negative term; he was simply using the term that was used back then. He was basically saying he hoped that there would be advancements in the future and children with this disorder could be productive and live independent lives. He simply wanted the best for those affected by this disorder. I found the beginning quote on Adolf Hitler a great point. You never know what someone will grow up to be or how nurturing they will be. People today have a problem with giving up on a child before they are even born. While I don’t think there will ever be a magic medication that will end DS, but I hope that there will be advancements that help them to live as independently as possible and reach their top potential. I think Dr. Lejeune’s use of words is no different than when you listen to your great-grandparents tell stories of childhood. I find that people that are really old tend to use the same terms they did growing up, just take the time to listen to them talk about anyone that was different whether it be based on color or background. They tend to use words that are very offensive to most but are normal to them. I find that they sound very prejudice but they aren’t, they simply grew up in a different time. I found Dr. Lejeune’s comment to be just right for his age and the time he did his research. He cared deeply about research and helping those affected by DS. He was a great man and respected by many.
The problem I find with this statement is that it implies that there is something inherently wrong with having a developmental disability. Lejeune anticipates a day where babies that are born with these delays can be treated with medicine that will alter their chemical makeup to make them ‘normal’, functioning children. But, in doing so he implies that people born with developmental disabilities are not capable of having full, rich lives. So the question at hand is; Will we someday see a day where all abnormalities—genetic mutations, physical impairments, chemical imbalances—in children can be treated to make them ‘normal’ and healthy? Will we be able to do it before they are even born? I think that sometime in the near future we will actually see the day where people can design their children, picking and choosing which genetic traits they want their child to have and which they do not before they are even conceived. But, is that right? Should we try to change people? In doing so do we change who they are? The story Jejeune tells about the two babies born in Austria, regardless of whether it is true or not serves to make a valid point. Our destinies are not wholly determined by our genetic makeup. It may play a role in who we are or how we define ourselves, but it does not make all the choices in our life for us.
Professor Lejeune’s quote is one of a man who, having found the cause of Down Syndrome, also hoped for a cure. “Mongolian idiot” is old terminology for the condition that we now refer to as Down Syndrome. It is not a slur against those with this condition. It was Lejeune who discovered that the condition arose when a 47th chromosome was present. This extra chromosome was discovered when the geneticists were first able to view chromosomes with high powered microscopes in 1859. The man to whom credit is given for identifying the syndrome is John Langdon Down. His identification of this syndrome in 1866 was due to his interest in children who had mental deficiencies of various kinds. He thought it important not to group them all together, but came up with the idea of grouping them by the ethnic characteristics they displayed. He had compassion on these folks who were labeled “idiots” and were the outcasts of society. He even opened up a private home for them despite being criticized by polite company. Both men who did extensive research in the area of this syndrome did so from a heart that wanted to see change in how those afflicted with this syndrome were treated by the rest of society. Lejeune was adamant about the right to life for those with Down syndrome, and was chairman of the French anti-abortion movement called “Let them Live.” I believe both men would agree that society holds a very narrow view of what constitutes a “quality” life. I know a couple who have a son who was born with DS. He is now over fifty years old and has brought joy to them and to those of us who are blessed to know him. He was always the first person to greet me with a hug at our church. He made people smile who perhaps had not done so for a week. His life is as meaningful and important as any world leaders. Who am I to say differently?
To be honest, I find Professor Jerome Lejeune’s quote offensive. I don’t think people with mental retardation needs to be cured, as “intellectual disability is not a disease” (National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities. “Matthew’s Story”. ) The organization also points out that people with intellectual disabilities can learn to do many things, though it may take them longer than their peers.
A relative of mine is considered to be suffering from profound mental retardation and has lived her entire adult life in a home with people of similar disabilities. As a child, when my parents took my siblings and me to visit her, I was scared we would catch something from her and the other residents. Professor Lejeune's quote reminds me of my immature thoughts. Looking back, I remember that this relative was capable of looking past my reactions, as she was still able to greet me with a smile. A person with a higher IQ probably would have slapped me.
While I sympathize with the difficulties affected students, and their parents, may face as they grapple with an intellectual disability, I can’t help but note that being a smart person doesn’t mean you are a good person. A high IQ does not make you a more valuable human being. Each and every one of us deserves to be valued, and treated with respect and compassion, no matter our intellectual abilities.
In reading this quote I had a similar reaction as many of my classmates. I was shocked, but upon reading the link to the story about the young couple and his observation about his father and the two babies being born, one a murderer and the other a care giver, I realized that this was his way of exciting anger or shock from people. By using this language he possibly intended to make people realize their own misunderstanding of Down syndrome. I believe his quote reveals not only his hope for the great things people with Down Syndrome can achieve, as Holly suggests, but also somewhat of a contempt for those that feel they can not achieve great things or even everyday, “normal” things. To have a Down Syndrome person achieve the professional, educational, and personal goals required to become a geneticist would mean they are just as great, if not greater for overcoming such obstacles, as others. That being “cured” biochemical and then becoming someone who then cures others through genetics and biochemical means, is ironic and somewhat of a ‘got ya’ to all who believe it is not possible. I have to say, though, I still do not like the reference to people with Down Syndrome needing to be “treated” or cured in order to achieve such greatness. I hate to harp on this fact again, but if everyone recalls I mentioned in earlier posts this woman Temple Grandin and what she managed to achieve in her lifetime with no cure at all, but simple hard work, understanding, and patience (both hers and others). I know she did not have Down Syndrome, but she did have Autism, which we all know can also be an extremely difficult disability to deal with. This ‘cured’ idea actually makes me quite upset. These are people who are just different, not damaged, not riddled with some horrible disease that will kill them or spread to others, but simply different. When I think of his story about Hitler and then his usage of “treated” it makes me think of comparing it to the Nazi idea that anyone who was not of their perfect genetic ideal was inferior and had to be either cured or eliminated. And this makes me quite upset. Upon reflection, however, maybe that was also part of his reasoning for wording his quote the way he did and telling the Hitler/baby girl story.
I chose to pick Professor Jerome Lejeune’s comment apart in pieces to evaluate the meaning. At face value, it was a bit offensive. “I look forward to the day…” is referring to the future. The term “Mongolian idiot” refers to a child with Down syndrome. “Treated biochemically” suggests using medication. “Successful geneticist” suggests high intelligence. Is the author of this quote suggesting that in the future the discovery of the right combination of drugs is the key to unlock the inner genius of a child with Down syndrome? Is he suggesting that children with Down syndrome are somehow of average or above average intelligence and are trapped by their disorder? From the reading and other research, Down syndrome is a chromosomal defect. Medication can assist in controlling some behaviors caused by the genetic defect, but do not have the power to reshape the DNA into a normal DNA structure. It’s not a disease that can be cured. It’s like suggesting that the right combination of drugs will make a human grow feathers. It’s not in our DNA to grow feathers. Scientists have made some amazingly profound discoveries in human DNA, but I can’t logically see DNA restructuring to “correct” this defect as a possibility. I don’t think I would want to live in a world without children with Down syndrome. Every child has a purpose in life. I have a friend who has a child with Down syndrome; she has always said that she feels blessed because God trusted her with one of His little experiments.
I have mixed reactions to Professor Jermoe Lejeune’s quote “I look forward to the day when a mongolian idiot, treated biochemically, becomes a successful geneticist”. On one hand, I love it. It inspires. I too would love to see a child with down syndrome (mongolian) become a successful geneticist... Just not a biochemically treated one.
Why do we feel these children need to be altered just so they can become a “successful geneticist”? Don’t they teach us great things about human life as they are? They are human beings, and from my experience, they are human beings who are able to offer so much more than wisdom on science. They offer wisdom on life and love and compassion.
I had a neighbor growing up who had down syndrome. I watched her and her younger brother weekly and became very close with their family. Her brother went on to UofM and is currently studying engineering while she lives with her parents and works for a local company who employees people with disabilities. Her brother did not end up a killer, like Adolf Hitler, or a murder like in the diner story. He is a very intelligent, successful, nice kid. And... so is his sister. She would not be any more successful in her family’s eyes if she were a “biochemically treated geneticist”; because this wouldn’t be her. Not as God created her and not as the girl we all love so dearly.
We don’t need to biochemically treat these children, we need to implement the skills we’re learning in this class and others and look forward to the day these children are successful people, not successful geneticist.
When I first read this quote I responded in shock at the use of the word mongoloid when describing a baby. After letting the quote ferment for awhile I believe Lejeune decided on this harsh description to make a point.
The quote is set up to compare and contrast the two babies. I believe Lejeune tried his best to seperate the two in the most extreme way in the beginning so that the reader would be smacked across the face with his point in the end. I believe his point was to open eyes when it came to preconceived notions surrounding people with disabilities, babies included.
The quote as a whole puts on display that the circumstances people are born with do not determine that individuals effect on the world. The innocent baby girl who was born with inherent disadvantages had a positive result on the world (as far as the quote goes). While Hitler obviously left one of the largest black stains on humanity that has ever existed.
I believe this quote is helpful when trying to guide people into having patience, hope, and drive when helping disabled people.
When I first read this quote, I immediately thought it was awful. Not only the word idiot stood out to me, but I never realized that the term Mongolian was used as a term for Down Syndrome. However, as I began to think about it I realized that this quote is more of an inspiring or profound quote. I think this person realizes how people with disabilities, such as those with Down syndrome, are very capable to live normal lives and may even be more intellectual than those people without a disability. I truly believe that most people who have Down syndrome show much more happiness and kindness towards others and life to in general than most people who do not have the disability. I have always thought these people always seem so happy and are always so friendly. When I think of someone who has Down syndrome, I always think of a little kid that went to the YMCA when I worked there. Every time I saw him I smiled, he was always so happy. His family treated him just like all of his brothers and his sisters. He was in the basketball league at the YMCA, and to be honest I was not sure how well he would do, but he was actually better than most of the other kids. This just shows that we may have judgements of people with disabilities, but in reality they should have the opportunities to succeed just like everyone else.
After I first read this quote I was surprised that a professor would use the word “Mongolian idiot". He was using this word because that is what people call Down Syndrome kids. I think the way he says this is inspiring. I think he means he can't wait till this type of misjudged people solve something great. Also something I thought about this quote is that these people with Down Syndrome would find a cure for their own disease. A lot of society thinks that people with Down Syndrome can't do anything for them self or help anybody. And what Professor Jerome Lejeune is telling society that people with Down Syndrome can and will do things to help out all of society.
I love it when people use provocative language to get their point across. Lots of us are commenting about how offensive the statement was, and I appreciated reading a few people explain that this terminology was commonplace when the statement was made.
Regardless of how you like his choice of words, his point is the same. Those with disabilities are not expected to accomplish much. What's more, they are not looked upon favorably. Such a disadvantaged individual would shock and amaze those who did not believe in them by doing the unthinkable. Becoming a successful geneticist entails a great deal of education, as well an enormous amount of skill and understanding. Whether treated biochemically or not, this would be a great achievement.
Throwing in the idea that this individual with Down Syndrome would be treated biochemically shows a little bit of irony that this person could do unto others what was done unto him/her. Some here are saying that they would rather not see this disability "cured." I wonder how many people would keep their disabilities if they had the opportunity to be rid of them.
You never know who a child will grow up to be. The story of the two babies who grew up to be a great care-taker and Adolf Hitler is a great example of expectations versus reality. Love, care, and trust will go a long way towards helping a student to become who they were meant to be, disability or not.
When I first viewed the statement; "I look forward to the day when a mongolian idiot, treated bio-chemically, becomes a successful geneticist", almost appaulding, but after researching this man, a very well thought through statement. I think you can disect this statement to pieces, and everyone may have a different interpretation of the quote. Dr. Legeune in my opinion was not out to disrespect anyone with Down Syndrome, but using a basic term for someone with a severe mental defect. Dr. Legeune was dedicated to his research involving Down Syndrome, and hoped for the day, that a cure would be available. Dr. Legeune; was a friend of Pope John Paul II, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, and named a "Servant of God". http://trisomie.21.free.fr/jerome_lejeune_ang.htm
I found a few other quotes that brought me to the conclusion, that not only was he a brilliant man, but one of compassion towards this disease. Dr. Legeune discovered that children with Down Syndrome had a extra chromosone on the 21st pair, and thus calling it Trisomy 21( for 3 chromosones on number 21 not 2). Dr. Legeune was quoted as saying, "With their slightly slanting eyes, their little nose in a round face and their unfinished features, trisomic children are more child-like than other children." http://www.down-syndrome-facts-and-fiction.com/history-of-down-syndrome.html
The quote shows that this man has love for these children, and whole-heartedly wants to dicover a cure for a terrible disease.
I think without researching this man, a conclusion would have been made; a man with no heart, stereotyping a group of diseased children, and no will to fight for a cure. A last quote of Dr. Legeune's prevents me from feeling any ill-will towards this man, a quote from his last moments on Earth, with the sad feeling of failing in his mission; "I was the doctor who was supposed to cure them and as I leave, I feel I am abandoning them." http://trisomie.21.free.fr/jerome_lejeune_ang.htm
I think this quote says it all; once lived a man whose only lifelong goal, was a cure for Down Syndrome, not a man with a damning quote. Although, at first glance a very controversial quote for this period in time, a quote made by a man fighting for the "Mongolian idiot".
My idea about Professor Jerome Lejeune's statement has changed the more that I reflect on the situation. Initially I just read the question before reading the assignment and thought to myself Mr. Lejeune was just being a jerk. The statement without the actual context of the man and his work seems mean spirited and sarcastic. Once I read all the articles for the assignment the picture cleaned up somewhat but not completely. I learned that the term Mongolian idiot is an older term for Down syndrome. This term originated from Dr. Down’s himself in his paper “Observations on an Ethical Classification of Idiots” written in 1866. It goes without saying that racism was rampant in that time period, kids with disabilities weren’t given the same treatment that they are now. The term Down syndrome has only been used in the last few decades. This is relevant because we don’t know when Professor Lejeune made the statement. He lived from 1924 to 1994 and Mongolian idiot could have been the common term used at the time of the quote. I believe the professor simply was not disparaging those with Down syndrome with his comment but simply referring to them as he originally knew them. He is looking towards a better future where there “condition” can be cured by medicine. His statement also presupposes that those with Down syndrome want to be “fixed” and that they will have a better quality of life if they were more “normal”. I personally have no problem with the way he made his statement; I don’t think its fair to blame someone for not being politically correct when most likely the statement was made before political correctness was en vogue. The message seems to have hope that one day a disability can be cured. In a way his statement is a way of saying that he believes that everyone is equal and they all deserve an equal opportunity for happiness and success in life. I believe that is the treat for people looking to treat and cure disabilities and illnesses.
I think that it is safe to say, just like the rest of my classmates,that I was shocked at first when I read the statement. The actual words ( monogoloid and idiot) were not very PC in the PC world we live in. I think by this, the writer is saying he looks forward to the day when a person born with downs can be treated, and become a contributing member of society.
It is accepted by parents and teachers of students with mental retardation to prepare them for a future of work that may not be as grandeur as being a biochemist, but possibly in the future, with treatment, a person born with downs can do this.
The quote also makes me think of the book Flowers for Algernon. In the book a mentally retarted lab worker, who cleaned the cages, was tested with a treatment the lab rats had been tested with, to increase thier brain power. He became a genius, even smarter than the scientists that developed it. However, it was short-lived, and he was much happier when he was back to himself. It a very good book that will give insight as to what it is like on the other end of the spectrum.
This statement has obviously drawn mixed emotions from many. Like most of my classmates, I also had to read it multiple times and let it soak in before feeling that I was fully ready to comment on it. It may sound extreme to many, because they see the phrase “mongolian idiot” and immediately become offended. I don’t believe the phrase was meant to do that. I believe it was meant to be inspiring.
Imagine a doctor working with amputees saying “I look forward to the day when a quadriplegic, who has prosthetic hands, becomes a successful surgeon”. That too would be motivating, considering a prosthetic-toting, successful surgeon could work to benefit the lives of others in a similar situation. This is almost identical to the situation Professor Lejeune addresses while discussing the idea of a sufferer of Down syndrome being able to contribute to the area that made them successful.
While the term may have been ill-advised, it was used to make an extreme statement. Many times, people use words or phrases just to catch their audience’s attention. This quote did just that. It really made me think, “Why couldn’t someone suffering from Down syndrome be successful?”
Professor Lejeune’s background and experience in working with students affected by Down syndrome encourages me to think the way he does. He has no reservations on what should be expected of those students. They can succeed and fail in just the same manners as their peers. His choice of words may not be what someone in this field today would choose to use with an attempt to be politically correct, but his idea came across to me loud and clear.
I look forward to the day when a Mongoloid idiot, treated biochemically, becomes a successful geneticist.
Of course, when I initially read this quote, I was taken aback. Mongoloid? Idiot? Really? But then, like everything, especially language, we have to consider it from a perspective other than our own—in this case a historical perspective. “Mongoloid Idiot” was mere terminology. In keeping with my desire to consider it from a historical perspective, I did a little bit of research on Dr. Lejeune. He devoted his life to research and finding cures for diseases. He was pro-life (though the term was likely not coined then) and Catholic to the point that he was personal friends with the Pope and that his daughter wrote a book about him entitled, “Life is a Blessing.” I saw one note that he was (or is) even being considered for sainthood. Dr. Lejeune is not a mean guy or even a guy with a big mouth or bad intentions. He was a dedicated scientist who dedicated his whole life to science in hopes of finding concrete, scientific solutions so that people with Down’s syndrome could learn and be successful. He wanted these people to be given a chance in a time when Down’s Syndrome babies were automatically sent to away and hidden from society.
Upon deeper reflection, I can't help but feel that Dr. Lejeune would be appalled by some people/scientists today. In today’s world where we value progress and decry past social blunders (ie calling Down’s Syndrome people Mongoloid Idiots), we have allowed science to not only seek to cure, but to also predict Down’s and provide the option of terminating a pregnancy if a fetus is Down’s positive. I DO NOT intend for this commentary to be a controversial pro-life or pro-choice debate. Instead, I only mean to illustrate that Dr. Lejeune, a documented pro-life advocate would roll over in his grave to know that some of his scientific discoveries could be used to terminate pregnancies. This, I feel certain, is not the “day he looked forward to.” That said, as in the story included in this blog about Mikey, I feel very uplifted to know that there are so many parents out there like Mikey’s parents, who bring wonderful souls into the world without regard to ability or disability, but I understand that it is a difficult decision that no one can likely understand unless they are the ones who have to make it.
Again, I didn’t mean for this to take on a controversial tone, so I’d like to reel it back into the educational realm. As educators, we don’t and won’t have the “biochemical” cure that Dr. Lejeune dreamed of, but we have increasingly useful and effective interventions in place that will ensure a strong level of success for all of our learners, no matter the ability or disability.
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