Why should the government (us) help pay for children with disabilities?

Question

I have nothing against retarded children, but if you choose to have them, you should take responsibility for them. I really don't believe in having these types of children. I think it is a burden to the parent and the child itself. You will have to take care of the kid for the rest of it's life. Why bring it to suffer? My cousin has down syndrome and he had so many damn surguries, its like why make a kid go through that, its hard enough being normal." And if you don't have the time to teach the kid anything, spare yourself. My Aunt is disgustingly lazy and teaches the kid nothing so he is really bad when she is around and acts up and hits her with things. I don't get it.

In other words abortion, if you were in the wild, an animal cannot accept a child with a disability b/c it will die in the wild, it cannot survive. Why doesn't the country help those who are trying to get an education, and make a life get a home and working hard. Why do we always have to help those who are on drugs, have kids with problems, and other issues? That is all I am saying. You decided to keep it, so you should take responsibility for it as everyone else has to buy their things, pay for college and what not.

Answer 1

Downs Syndrome is one of the few birth defects that can be detected in utero. This is a demand of a lot of people who feel the burden of having someone who is handicapped and are determined for them to have a "normal" life. Society should help out these people, but when the government gets involved, it gets real expensive quick. Church groups, etc can be a great support group.

On bringing it to term, a child can enjoy life without being exactly like you or I. If we kill babies because they aren't exactly like we want them, we open a door into bad things. Bring them to term and then build a support group around you.

Answer 2

Why are you sounding a heck of a lot like Hitler??? I was born with a rare blood disorder that even now only about 500 people a year are born with. There is no way to tell inurtreo that that child has this disorder, I also have a learning disability as do three of my children one is developmentally delayed not downs syndrome and the other two have dyslexia and have trouble with reading and writing, Yet the middle daughter graduated college with her AA and is going back to become a teacher and the youngest is going to college to become a psychologist. Maybe she can treat you and help you to become a human being. Because of the blood disorder that I was born with I also have a dislocated hip and have to use crutches to walk and to stand. Yet I help children with learning disabilities get the services that they need, I help people get the services that they need to enable their children to learn so that they can go to college and to work when they finish. I have been a tutor at my daughter's school over 20 hours a week, I have been a Girl Scout leader for over 6 years. What have you done to help those who are less off than you rather than wish that they weren't here???

Answer 3

First. Tell me where I can find the psychic that could have accurately told me, that with absolutely no history of learning disabilities in either mine or my wifes family lineages, that at the age of two years, my son would regress into severe autism?

Second
What would you suggest... should we execute every one that doesn't meet YOUR standards. What if the govt sets the standards and YOU don't make the grade?
Okay, get up against the wall!!

There have been many great innovators and artists throughout history that were disabled or thought to be "retarded".
Albert Einstein was believed to be mentally retarded by his school teachers.
So was Thomas Edison.
Temple Grandin, a college professor is autistic.
Stephen Hawking was told that he wouldn't live to be 29.
Ludwig Von Beethoven was deaf.
Vincent Van Gogh was schizophrenic.

Third there are many single adults that don't believe the government should fund public schools. Of course most of them benefitted from public schools.

One of the functions of government is to provide services when there is no profit to be made. However, many corporation now get millions in goverment grants and tax abatements and no one complains. Yet self centered people like you seem to think that giving over a billion dollars in government subsidies to a corporation is okay while providing need assistance to low and middle class taxpayers is some how a crime.

You really sound like a self centered @%$@^* that needs a solid whack with a clue stick!

Answer 4

That's hilarious...you think I chose to have a kid with autism? I didn't put in an order for her, that's for sure, but now that she's here, I'm responsible for her. If it makes you feel any better, a great majority of people with disabled children don't ever see a dollar from the government.

However, the way society treats it's weakest members, is a direct reflection of the society itself. A society that leaves families to struggle by themselves is condemned to rot and fail on it's own. It's like saying that we shouldn't pay old people money for social security once they retire. Once you stop working, then if your family can't or won't support you, you should just walk off and die. Do you think that is right also?

It's also specifically unreasonable to judge someone as lazy based on the behavior of a disabled child. I'll just put that out now. Most of us who parent disabled children work really hard, but it takes longer for them to learn and there will be times when the actu up.

Answer 5

Well my child's special need wasnt able to be detected in utero. He has autism and that is no cause for an abortion. I think these parents for the most part take care of them. How do you know these children suffer? What about kids who become retarted as you call it by abuse? Sounds like you have some personal issues. If you see what the govt pays vs the real cost of treatment (same with ins. companies) you would be shocked at how much parents pay out of pocket.

Answer 6

I am not sure what you are suggesting here, but if it smacks of euthanasia, or a precursor to "genocide" you can count me out.
It sounds to me as if your Aunt may not be the best guardian for her son. Not to go completely PC on you but the word "retarded" is not appropriate for his condition. Kids with Downs can often be guided into being productive members of society. Honestly, the children and adults that I know that have Downs have wonderful hearts and could do a lot to teach people love, humility, and humor. It is true that the attention that they need in their early life takes an enormous amount of effort, money and time - but I say these souls are worth it. I would rather know my taxes were going to such a cause, than to know that it is going to some corrupt government contractor.
I am not sure what your own age and capabilities are but I have a suggestion for you. Spend time with this cousin. Try to help improve the situation. You may find he could be the best friend you ever had. Finger pointing at your Aunt is not going to help - get in there and see what you can do - be empowered to find some resources that could guide you and find a support system. There are more resource - but I have pinned one below.

Answer 7

Until you walk a mile in your aunt's shoes - or the shoes of any other parent of a disabled child, you have NO CLUE what it is like.

We have no history of any type of mental, developmental, or social disability in either my or my husband's family histories. We never even knew our daughter had any sort of problem until she was 3, and didn't find out it was high-functioning autism until she was 7. What are you suggesting we do, if we couldn't afford to care for her - throw her down a well at 7, once we found out she was "damaged goods?" (Your opinion of her and those like her - certainly not mine!)

The ONLY public assistance we have ever accepted for her was the services of an aide to help her navigate a mainstream school classroom in grades two through five. Other than that, we have paid for every hour of therapy, every consultation with various medical professionals, and for every prescription she's ever been prescribed to help her control some of her more aggressive or troublesome symptoms (her current medication, by the way, costs about $1,500/month, without insurance. I still pay $300 out of pocket). So there is not that much "help" we're really getting, y'know?

We are lucky in that we are financially able to give her the quality of care that she has, but knowing firsthand how difficult it is to parent a disabled child, I wouldn't begrudge one dime going to help a family who has it worse than me, either in the level of disability or income.

As difficult as my daughter has been, she is enormously talented. She is artistic, she NEVER lies, and although she may not act the same as you or me, she is still bright and beautiful. She has taught me compassion and patience and I am a better person for having her in my life. I have gained more from her than I could ever hope to repay her.

So should we help pay for these children to live as full and complete lives as we can offer? You bet - the world is a better place for them. If you open your heart and your mind to what these special souls can teach you, you will be a better person for having known them, too.

Answer 8

What do you think children deserve being retarded. That is something the parent nor the baby has no control of. So are you saying that once mental problems are discovered the child should be put to death? Children like that need love to and lots of it. It takes a special person to handle something like that. And once you grow up maybe you will understand that. I have always been taught that people who pick on others is because there parents was too dumb to teach them any better. I do apologize that you were not taught better.

Answer 9

It sounds like you are especially annoyed with your Aunt for not stepping up to the plate and taking more responsibility. I would be annoyed too, but there are many parent who do put in loads of time with thier special needs children.

One thing I would like to point out is that the majority of the families with special needs kids did not know they would be special needs until after they were 2 or three years old. Are you suggesting killing them then? Should we kill all special needs adults too as they are a burden to society as you suggest? I believe this is exactly what Hitler did; put all special needs people to death and what genocide is: wiping out a group of people you don't happen to like. Maybe some people feel that way about you; maybe you aren't gifted enough.......chop-chop

Answer 10

OK, I am just going to ignore the fact that you are inhumane! I am pro-choice but on an idividual basis. What do you expect these parents to do, leave the children at the hospital and not take loving responsibility for them.

I have a daughter who was born with heart disease. We wouldnt have financialy made it if it wasnt for government help. We would be broke and owing thousands of dollars if we didnt have the help she needed or the quality of life she deserves. In talking to her pediatric cardiologist, it couldnt have been located before birth if they didnt know what they were looking for.

I do not have a problem with helping the true families who really need it. I think the constant users of public assistance should not be allowed to use it on an on-going basis instead of not looking for a job or even getting one.