What question would you ask the presidential candidates?
Mrs., or Mr., Presidential Candidate, my son has autism and I would like to know how you might make the world a better place for autistic children and for autistic adults. In the 1960s, autism was considered a rare disorder; today, the prevalence rate for autism is now 1 in 150 among children in the US. While there is much disagreement about what causes autism, everyone can agree that autistic children need to be educated. Many, though not all, autistic children like my son benefit greatly from an educational program that has one-on-one teaching; that is uniquely tailored to them, and that provides individualized speech, occupational, and physical therapy; and that enables them to be included with “typical” children. This kind of educational program requires expert supervision and is not inexpensive: How do you think that the American education system can be reformed so that no autistic child is left being?
My wording gets a little grandiose at the end but that is the question I would put to the presidential candidates about autism—–and you can submit your own question in this summer’s two CNN and YouTube presidential primary debates, one Republican and one Democratic. Rather than the questions coming from conventional journalists, they can come from you.
How?
A selection of video questions submitted to YouTube will be “rolled in” as the questions put to the candidates during the debate. For the Democratic debate (which will be moderated by Anderson Cooper), any 30 second question submitted on YouTube before the end of July 22nd has a chance to be chosen.
The Democratic debate will be on Monday July 23rd from 7 to 9 pm EDT; the Republican debate will be on Monday, September 17th, from 7 – 9 pm EDT.
This Monday, July 22n, CNN.com Live will stream the debate live, and re-feed portions of debate video by topic. Site visitors will be invited to submit video critiques; there will also be opportunities for them to describe how they would have responded to the questions.
I am having trouble with the iMovie software on my computer and may not be able send in my question. Let’s get out the word that we need to do the right thing for autistic persons not by proclaiming in alarmist fashion that there is an “epidemic” of autism, but by making it clear that our society can do more and can do better by autistic persons.
If anyone would like to submit a question, let me know by leaving a comment.
6 opinions for What question would you ask the presidential candidates?
Niksmom
Jul 22, 2007 at 8:41 am
This puts me in mind of ABFH’s recent post ( http://autisticbfh.blogspot.com/2007/07/christschool-educates-hillary-clinton.html )featuring Christschool’s video to Hillary Clinton. View the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1avUuFQcMP8
(Sorry, I don’t know how to embed it like a pretty link…)
I’ll have to give this some thought…I definitely have some questions.
Retired Waif
Jul 22, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Isn’t Hillary Clinton closely involved with Autism Speaks? I’d take that as her answer…
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jul 22, 2007 at 2:05 pm
It would be all the more interesting to ask her a few things….
Regan
Jul 22, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Why is it when I go to my parent night for my typical kid that I am told that the goal for my child is to be educated equal to the best in the world, but when I go to an IEP meeting I am told that my special need child is only entitled to a “buick” education?
When is the Federal Government finally going to fully fund IDEA?
When is the Federal Government going to stand behind its own Surgeon General’s report on ABA?
How much more money is going to be spent on study groups, task forces, blue ribbon panel reports, position statements and websites before some real money is budgeted, with a plan, to develop training centers and housing so that people with special needs have more hope of a dignified and productive life with a livelihood based on their skills and talents?
What are you going to do if elected to make a substantive change for all US citizens, not just those who already have money, stature and position?
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jul 22, 2007 at 8:17 pm
Right on, Regan—–
Michael D Crider Sr
Jan 7, 2008 at 5:17 am
I have been diagnosed with a degenerative disease that will eveentually place me in a wheelchair or beddridden for the rest of my life and have been denied Social Security somany times ive lost count,What will you do to aid not only myself but the millions of americans that cannot afford health care and havent the means to pay for medical care?
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