NDSC Press Releases
Tropic Thunder Boycott
Click here for local stories on the ‘Tropic Thunder’ boycott
September 27, 2008 The Great Falls (MT) Tribune reports on self advocate Jesse Campbell, who is an included and valued member of the Choteau High School community, and was recently elected homecoming king.
September 29, 2008 Self advocates Katie Lowe and Bob Macaux of the Down Syndrome Society of Rhode Island share the “We’re More Alike than Different” message in this WJAR-TV 10 (NBC, Providence, RI) story about the passage of the Kennedy-Brownback bill. Katie’s mom, Claudia, and Bob’s mom, Janice, are also featured. To view the story, scroll to the videos at the bottom of the “Health” page.
September 28, 2008 This Chicago Tribune article discusses the challenges of sharing accurate information about life with Down syndrome to parents and professionals. NDSC Executive Director David Tolleson says, “There’s never been a better time to be diagnosed with Down syndrome…but doctors and prospective parents don’t always hear the good news.”
September 26, 2008 WDAY-6 (Fargo, ND) reports on self advocate Kelli Stein, who was recently named Homecoming Queen in Hankinson, ND. Kelli’s classmates and community have included her throughout her school years. Kelli is the daughter of Cyndi and Bruce Stein.
September 23, 2008 Self advocate and past NDSC Convention speaker Brad Hennefer is featured in this (Camden, NJ) Courier-Post article. Brad, along with his parents, Bob and Nancy, formed the Brad Hennefer Golf for Life Foundation.
September 17, 2008 Politico.com features a story on U.S. Representatives Pete Session (R-TX) and Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA), and House Delegate Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC), all of whom have children with Down syndrome.
September 16, 2008 Vision & Voice, the quarterly publication of the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability, reports on Cheryl Jorgensen receiving a 2008 NDSC Education Award.
September 15, 2008 Self advocates Christi Hockel, Austin Davenport, and Tracy Burke are featured in this story from the Contra Costa (CA) Times. Christi and Austin are members of the NDSC’s Self Advocate Council.
September 10, 2008 The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric tackles the issue of prenatal diagnosis in this expanded version of a story that was broadcast.
September 10, 2008 The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric presents a story on prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.
September 10, 2008 CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric discusses prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome in her "Notebook" segment.
September 10, 2008 Labspaces.net offers a summary of a June 2008 article from the journal Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The article discusses the case of a 70 year old man with Down syndrome who is in good health and shows no sign of Alzheimer’s or dementia. Click here for the full, in-depth article.
September 8, 2008 NDSC members Heidi Moore and Michelle McCarthy, along with NDSC Executive Director David Tolleson are quoted in this Associated Press article about awareness related to Sarah Palin and her son.
September 8, 2008 NDSC Governmental Affairs Director Susan Goodman and Executive Director David Tolleson are quoted in this USA Today.
September 5, 2008 Newsweek quotes NDSC Executive Director David Tolleson and others in this story regarding the impact of Sarah Palin's son, who has Down syndrome, on the national discussion about services for those with disabilities.
September 3, 2008 KKTV in Colorado Springs spotlights the family of NDSC Board member Jim Faber in this story about Down syndrome. NDSC Partnership Alliance member and Colorado Springs Down Syndrome Association Executive Director Julie Harmon is also featured.
September 1, 2008 Self advocate and 2008 NDSC Convention exhibitor Connor Gifford appears on NBC's Today, discussing his book, "America According to Connor Gifford", co-authored with Victoria Harris. Excerpts from the book can be found on the Today/MSNBC site, with a link to the video to the right.
September 1, 2008 Self advocate John Franklin Stephens of Virginia writes about why the use of the word "retard" is hurtful in this opinion piece for The Denver Post.
August 25, 2008 In Dream Online, Matthew Cyr reports on the Adaptive Dance Program run by Children’s Hospital Boston and Boston Ballet. Program participants performed during the 25th Anniversary Celebration of Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress at the Opening Reception of the 2008 NDSC National Convention.
August 22, 2008 In this op-ed piece from The Guardian (U.K.),
NDSC Executive Director David Tolleson argues that "Tropic Thunder" undermines efforts to ensure that individuals with disabilities are
treated respectfully.
August 18, 2008 Special Olympics athlete, Loretta Claiborne, and Board Chair, Timothy Shriver, discuss the "Tropic Thunder" controversy on "Good Morning America". On the website, look for the video by air date.
August 17, 2008 In this Chicago Tribune op-ed piece about "Tropic Thunder", University of Chicago at Illinois professor Lennard J. Davis asks who gets to decide whether a joke is humor or humiliation – the jester, or the object of the jest?
August 17, 2008 Ben Stiller and his associates from "Tropic Thunder" are reminded that free speech should be used responsibly, in this editorial in the Tuscaloosa (AL) News.
August 16, 2008 Wes Carter, the father of a child with Down syndrome and editor for dallasnews.com, uses the "Tropic Thunder" controversy to discuss the hurtful impact of the "r-word".
August 16, 2008 An editorial in DelawareOnline notes that, contrary to what filmmakers believe, advocates understand that "Tropic Thunder" was meant to be humorous. However, the filmmakers don’t seem to realize the harm they’re causing.
August 14, 2008 NDSC Executive Director David Tolleson, actor and self advocate Eddie Barbanell, and journalist Pat Bauer (www.patriciaebauer.com) discussed the problems with the DreamWorks film "Tropic Thunder" on Fox Network’s "The Morning Show with Mike and Juliette".
August 13, 2008 NDSC Partnership Alliance member and Down Syndrome of Louisville Executive Director Diana Merzweiler is featured in this WHAS-TV story about the "Tropic Thunder" controversy.
August 12, 2008 National Public Radio reports on the controversy surrounding "Tropic Thunder".
August 12, 2008 ABC News reporter Luchina Fisher reports on the national backlash against the DreamWorks Studios film "Tropic Thunder". In the article, NDSC Executive Director, David Tolleson, says, "until you make cultural changes, the job is not complete."
August 12, 2008 The Washington Post reports on disability rights organizations protesting at the Hollywood premiere of DreamWorks Studios film, "Tropic Thunder". NDSC is a founding member of the coalition of disability-rights organizations responding to the film.
August 10, 2008 Michael Cieply reports on the gathering call for a protest of the DreamWorks Studios film, "Tropic Thunder." NDSC Executive Director, David Tolleson, is quoted after having seen a special screening of the film last Friday.
August 5, 2008 NDSC members Michelle Sie Whitten and Lloyd Lewis joined forces in a successful benefit for the Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Educational Fund and the ARC Thrift of Colorado, as reported in this Denver Post article.
August 6, 2008 The Fairfield (CT) Citizen-News tells the story of self advocate, John Primsky, Jr., an Eagle Scout who is employed full-time by Sodexo, a vendor for General Electric. John and his parents are NDSC members.
July 30, 2008 The Denver Post reports on the ribbon-cutting of the new Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children’s Hospital in Denver. Michelle Sie Whitten, Executive Director of the Anna & John J. Sie Foundation, is an NDSC member and, along with her husband, Tom, proud parent of 4-year-old Sophia, who has Down syndrome.
July 22, 2008 The (Madison, WI) Capital Times follows up on the story of a Wisconsin man found guilty of stealing the identity of a Massachusetts man with Down syndrome. Parents and self advocates should be aware of this cautionary tale.
July 20, 2008 Beverly Beckham shares her experience in a workshop led by authors Jennifer Graf Groneberg
and Kathryn Lynard Soper at the 2008 NDSC Convention in this Boston Globe article.
July 6, 2008 NDSC Member Leticia Velasquez authored this article about prenatal testing and the Kennedy-Brownback bill in the National Catholic Register.
July 2008 The Canadian edition of Reader’s Digest, highlights the story of self advocate Krystal Greey, who portrayed Phoebe in Lifetime’s adaptation of Kim Edward’s novel, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter. (PDF)
June 26, 2008 The Niles (MI) Daily Star reports on self advocate Dale Linsenmier, who retired after a 22 year career at Toefco.
June 16, 2008 The Roswell (New Mexico) Daily Record highlights self advocate Tim Harris, who will educate this summer from Eastern New Mexico University – Roswell.
June 13, 2008 Self advocate Becca Winegar is featured in this public service announcement produced by The Foundation for a Better Life.
June 10, 2008 Barbara Curtis discusses inclusive education in this Christian Science Monitor article.
June 1, 2008 The New York Times reports on Alzheimer’s disease in older adults with Down syndrome. NDSC Professional Advisory Council member Brian Chicoine is quoted. Dr. Chicoine, and his colleague, Dr. Dennis McGuire, will speak on aging issues at the 2008 NDSC National Convention in Boston.
May 18, 2008 WPIX-TV (New York) shares a video story on college-bound high school senior and self advocate, Brad Hennefer. Brad, who has been fully included in school, has lettered in two varsity sports and works two jobs. He is the son of Bob and Nancy Hennefer, who founded the Brad Hennefer Golf for Life Foundation. To access the story, click on "CW11 News Video" at the top of the page, then scroll through the videos.
May 18, 2005 An article in Iceland Review Online speaks to the value of diversity – including those with Down syndrome – in our world.
May 9, 2008 Sara Diaz is featured in this Office of Minority Health article on the challenges to Latino families in accessing disability-related services. Sara, an employee of the Federation for Children with Special Needs in Boston, is leading NDSC’s efforts to reach Spanish speakers for the 2008 convention. This article also quotes Suzy Martorell, who leads the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta’s outreach efforts.
May 7, 2007 The (Madison, WI) Capital Times reports on the sentencing of a Wisconsin man guilty of stealing the identity of a Massachusetts man with Down syndrome.
April 7, 2008 The (Lafayette, LA) Advertiser reports on self advocate Tony Piontec, who serves on the Board of the Down Syndrome Association of Acadiana.
April 5, 2008 CNN reports on prenatal diagnosis.
April 3, 2008 The Washington Post reports on one family’s challenging transition in living arrangements.
March 26, 2008 Pennsylvania self advocate Danny Oberst was featured on ESPN2’s "First Take", as shared in this story from KALB, the NBC affiliate in Alexandria, LA.
March 16, 2008 Self advocate Austin Underwood enjoys independent living, as revealed in this article and accompanying video from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Austin is the son of NDSC members Jan and Joe Underwood.
March 25, 2007 The Omaha World-Herald features the "Alley Cats", a bowling team including self advocate and former NDSC Convention speaker Creighton Wall. The "Cats" shirts carry the slogan, "We’re More Alike than Different!"
March 24, 2008 This article, which originally appeared as an op-ed piece in The Tennessean on September 14, 2004, can be found on the website of the author, Dr. Frank Boehm. An extended version of the article appeared in OB/GYN News.
March 17, 2008 The Washington Post carries an article on "No Child Left Behind" featuring self advocate Stephen Sabia, and his mother, Ricki. Mrs. Sabia is Associate Director for Public Policy at NDSS, and will be a pre-conference speaker at this year’s NDSC National Convention.
March 16, 2007 The Benton County (AR) Daily Record features NDSC member and Down Syndrome Connection of Northwest Arkansas Vice President Stacy Reed. The article shares the story of when Stacy learned that her daughter, Carly, had Down syndrome, and also promotes World Down Syndrome Day, March 21st.
March 12, 2008 Self advocate Andrew Lawson, a varsity basketball player at Norwell High, is featured in this short film by Boston Globe video journalists Ann Silvio and Bill Greene.
March 11, 2008 Self advocate and entrepreneur Allison Wright is the focus of this edition of American Public Media’s, "The Story".
March 10, 2008 NDSC and NDSS joint letter to Dr. Sherman Silber regarding his book, "How to Get Pregnant." (MS Word)
March 7, 2008 National Public Radio's "To the Best of Our Knowledge" features self advocate Katie Basford, a 2007 NDSC National Convention Pre-Conference Session speaker.
March 2, 2008 NDSC Professional Advisory Council member Terri Couwenhoven is highlighted in this Sheboygan (WI) Press article.
March 2, 2008 Beverly Beckham provides an excellent rebuttal to inflammatory comments in Dr. Sherman Silber's book, "How to Get Pregnant", in this Boston Globe article.
March 2, 2008 The Edmonton (Alberta, Canada) Journal highlights the story of self advocate Tanya Ponich. Tanya and her sister, Michelle, were workshop speakers at the 2007 NDSC National Convention. Tanya is the daughter of NDSC member Rosalind Mosychuk.
|
