Lauren Potter, who plays cheerleader Becky Jackson on Fox's "Glee," has been appointed to serve on the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. (Michael Yarish/FOX)

Adults with Down syndrome are speaking up for their rights and participating in events related to their interests and needs. As reported on Disability Scoop, a recent opportunity has been presented by President Obama for a young actress, Lauren Potter, to serve on the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.
Lauren, who has Down syndrome, portrays a cheerleader on the award winning TV show “Glee.” The committee Lauren will join consists of 21 citizens and 13 federal representatives who are charged with advising the president and the secretary of health and human services on issues pertaining to Americans with intellectual disabilities. Her recognition on “Glee” led Lauren to become involved nationally as a self-advocate, speaking out against use of the word “retard” and the bullying of people with disabilities.
Lauren is pictured with Jane Lynch, who portrays the cynical physical education teacher on “Glee.” Ms. Lynch is the sister of a young woman with Down syndrome who died recently. This event was poignantly portrayed on an episode of the program. (A discussion of this episode appears on my blog entitled “Life Expectancy”.)

Television has the potential and opportunity to promote awareness of and respect for persons with disabilities. We celebrate the enlightenment that “Glee” has advanced.

In addition to National Down Syndrome Awareness Month, October is also National Disability Employment Awareness Month. How appropriate that they occur in the same month!

In the last few years, we have seen many adults with Down syndrome in the workplace. Billy is one of them; he has worked at Food City in Kingsport for over 10 years. He was originally hired by Ed Moore, who has been a manager at the grocery chain for over fifty years. His philosophy is one that might be adopted by all employers.

Click on the image to see the Grown Man Now Interview Series; “Current Employment” is the name of this interview with Mr. Moore.

Interview with Mr. Ed Moore, Food City Manager

We also see adults with other disabilities in a number of work situations. Employers have found that many people formerly considered unemployable can be valuable members of the work force if they are trained properly and given the opportunity. Our president emphasizes their value to our nation in declaring October  National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Utilizing the talents of all Americans is essential for our Nation to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we recognize the skills that people with disabilities bring to our workforce, and we rededicate ourselves to improving employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors for those living with disabilities…

— Barack Obama, President of the United States of America

Are you aware of the many adults with disabilities at work in your community?

Since October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, it seems a good time to look at what it means to have Down syndrome. First of all, what does the name mean? Langdon Down was a physician who first identified characteristics of people previously called Mongoloid, due to the slanted eyes seen in natives of Mongolia. Down is capitalized because it is a proper noun; syndrome is not because it is a list of identifying characteristics seen in a particular population.

Because of the similarity of physical characteristics, it is frequently assumed that children and adults with Down syndrome are always alike in other ways. The truth is that they may be quite different in personality, temperament and intelligence. The video displayed is a good way to look at these individual differences.

Ten Things People with Down Syndrome Would Like You to Know

My son Billy, for example, was raised in a family with three other children, a father of German descent, raised in the mid-west, and a mother of English-Scotch-Irish descent, raised in the south. He has characteristics of both parents and a personality of his own. If you have questions about Down syndrome or Billy, I will be happy to answer them. If you have specific questions about the causes and demographics of Down syndrome, you can Google Down syndrome and find numerous sources.

I welcome your questions and comments.

There is a new film released entitled “My Idiot Brother.” Following the current, intense battle against the use of the word “retarded,” I wonder if the use of this pejorative term will attract the same attention as the R word. Is idiot different from retarded?

When I first began my studies in special education, I learned the terms historically used to identify persons who had intellectual disabilities. The terms used were imbecile, idiot, and moron. After years of usage, these words became offensive and were changed to severely retarded, moderately retarded, and mildly retarded. Initially they were useful in identifying levels of disability and in planning educational programs. They also became used as hurtful words, slung at people in anger or rejection, such as “You idiot!”

See the connection? Whatever the term, as long as we remain insensitive to people who are vulnerable, those who have disabilities, and those who are unable to fight back, we will use terms in inappropriate and unkind ways.

Rather than fighting the word, let us fight the deeper problem – attitude. I think the answer is another R word: respect. In our family, we have words that we do not use. In addition to the words referred to above, we add “stupid” and “dumb.”

Billy asks me why we don’t use those words. I reply, “Because those words make people feel bad.” If we can teach that idea, we won’t have to stage battles to obliterate each objectionable word that comes along. And they will come along if we continue to believe that the word is the problem.

I, for one, will not see “My Idiot Brother.”

This my sister, Mary, safe and sound.

Hi! Happy Friday.

Today, I go to work. But before I go to work, I like to tell you bout last night. My sister did come over for dinner. My mom is cooking. DE-licious eggplant casserole, and me and my sister SO hungry. It is so good, my mom is a wonderful cook.
I pass the pepper to my sister. Have to look, is it S or P on top. I tell my sister, “Mary, Jos is gone on business trip, I like it you eat with us every night. My mom is cook for you, and you work so hard, and you not have to cook.” My sister likes that.
Then I think about it a lot. Mom and Mary talking about a lot of things, I not like to rupt. Then, alla get quiet, I tell my sister, “Mary, Jos is gone on business trip, right? Well! I got a great idea. How bout, on you anniversary, and you so lonely, I take you and my mom, going OUT to dinner, and then, we see a good, good movie! You like that?”
My sister say, “Aw, Billy, that’s a nice idea! What movie you like to see, my anniversary?”
I tell my sister, “Green Lantern.”
My sister and my mom laughing so hard. But I like Green Lantern.
My mom say, “That Green Lantern is CUTE.”
I did see that on Regis and Kelley.
Then I did clear the table. My mom and my sister got to put that new sprinkler outside, water the flowers outside. Because we got not rain, just dry inna bone. That sprinkle go round and round and my sister get all wet. But my mom is laughing so hard. And it’s funny.
And then, my sister ready to go home. I tell my sister, “Mary, Jos is gone on business, right? Well, I got a good idea. How bout I walk you home, you not be lonely. You like that? OK, I go to put on my tennis shoes. You wait for me.”
My sister walk with me to her house. Sometimes, inna corner, my sister go up the hill and I go back to my house, see my mom. But not now, because I need to take care of my sister. So I go all the way. My sister likes that.
My sister say, “Bye, Billy, I like it you walk me home.” She wave. But I not go yet. I got to wait. Mary open that door, and she wave at me again. Mary tell me, “Billy, you take good care of me. Thank you.”
I tell my sister, “I do Mary, cuz I love you. Mary, you gotta problem? ANYTHING. You call me. I take kevvadit. I not like you be lonely. You call me. I call you I get home, you not worry. OK? I hope you gotta good night sleep. Bye!”
But I not go yet. I wait, my sister lock that door. Cuz I love her. And now my sister safe and sound. I like that. I am good to my sister. Cuz I love her.