Sarah Palin's Speech about Special Needs

Get it Down 31 for 21 ARLINGTON, VA -- Governor Sarah Palin today delivered the followingremarks as prepared for delivery in Pittsburgh, PA, at 9:00 a.m. ET:Thank you all very much. I appreciate the hospitality of the people ofPittsburgh, and I'm grateful to all the groups who have joined us heretoday. The Woodlands Foundation, the Down Syndrome Center at theChildren's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Autism-link, the Children'sInstitute of Pittsburgh: Thank you for coming today. And, above all,thank you for the great work you do for the light and love you bringinto so many lives.John McCain and I have talked about the missions he'd like me to focuson should I become vice president, and our nation's energyindependence and government reform are among them. But there isanother mission that's especially close to my heart, and that is tohelp families of children with special needs. And today, we'll talkabout three policy proposals that are going to help us fulfill ourcountry's commitment to these children: more choices for parents,fully funding IDEA, and efforts to reform and refocus.Too often, even in our own day, children with special needs have beenset apart and excluded. Too often, state and federal laws add to theirchallenges, instead of removing barriers and opening new paths ofopportunity. Too often, they are made to feel that there is no placefor them in the life of our country, that they don't count or havenothing to contribute. This attitude is a grave disservice to thesebeautiful children, to their families, and to our country -- and Iwill work to change it.One of the most wonderful experiences in this campaign has been to seeall the families of children with special needs who come out torallies and events just like this. We have a bond there. We know thatchildren with special needs inspire a special love. You bring yoursons and daughters with you, because you are proud of them, as I am ofmy son.My little fella sleeps during most of these rallies, even when theyget pretty rowdy. He would be amazed to know how many folks come outto see him instead of me.When I learned that Trig would have special needs, honestly, I had toprepare my heart. At first I was scared, and Todd and I had to ask forstrength and understanding. I did a lot of praying for thatunderstanding, and strength, and to see purpose.And what's been confirmed in me is every child has something tocontribute to the world, if we give them that chance. You know thatthere are the world's standards of perfection, and then there areGod's, and these are the final measure. Every child is beautifulbefore God, and dear to Him for their own sake. And the truest measureof any society is how it treats those who are most vulnerable.As for our baby boy, Trig, for Todd and me he is only more preciousbecause he is vulnerable. In some ways, I think we stand to learn morefrom him than he does from us. When we hold Trig and care for him, wedon't feel scared anymore. We feel blessed.Of course, many other families are much further along a similar path-- including my best friend who happens to be my sister, Heather, andher 13-year old son Karcher, who has autism. Heather and I have workedon this for over a decade. Heather is an advocate for children withautism in Alaska. And as governor, I've succeeded in securingadditional funding and assistance for students with special needs. By2011, I will have tripled the funding available to these students.Heather and I have been blessed with a large, strong family network.Our family helps make sure that Trig and Karcher have what they need.But not everyone is lucky enough to have that strong network ofsupport. And the experiences of those millions of Americans point theway to better policy in the care of children with special needs.One of the most common experiences is the struggle of parents to findthe best and earliest care for their children. The law requires ourpublic schools to serve children with special needs, but often theresults fall far short of the service they need. Even worse, parentsare left with no other options, except for the few families that canafford private instruction or therapy.Many of you parents here have been through the drill: You sit downwith teachers and counselors to work out the IEP -- an individualeducation plan for your child. The school may be trying its best, butthey're overstretched. They may keep telling you that your child is"progressing well," and no extra services are required. They keeptelling you that -- but you know better.You know that your children are not getting all of the help they need,at a time when they need it most. The parents of children with specialneeds ask themselves every day if they are doing enough, if they aredoing right by their sons and daughters. And when our public schoolsystem fails to render help and equal opportunity -- and even preventsparents from seeking it elsewhere that is unacceptable.In a McCain-Palin administration, we will put the educational choicesfor special needs children in the right hands their parents'. Underreforms that I will lead as vice president, the parents and caretakersof children with physical or mental disabilities will be able to sendthat boy or girl to the school of their choice -- public or private.Under our reforms, federal funding for every special needs child willfollow that child. Some states have begun to apply this principlealready, as in Florida's McKay Scholarship program. That programallows for choices and a quality of education that should be availableto parents in every state, for every child with special needs. Thisprocess should be uncomplicated, quick, and effective -- because earlyeducation can make all the difference. No barriers of bureaucracyshould stand in the way of serving children with special needs.That's why John and I will direct the Department of Education toclarify the statute administratively. We'll make explicit that whenstate funds are portable, federal funds are fully portable. We'regoing to make sure parents have choices and children receive theeducation they deserve.Even the best public school teacher or administrator cannot rightfullytake the place of a parent in making these choices. The schools feelresponsible for the education of many children, but a parent alone isresponsible for the life of each child. And in the case of parents ofchildren with disabilities, there are enough challenges as it is, andour children will face more than enough closed doors along the way.When our sons and daughters need better education, more specializedtraining, and more individual attention, the doors of opportunityshould be open.Like John McCain, I am a believer in providing more school choice forfamilies. The responsibility for the welfare of children restsultimately with mothers and fathers, and the power to choose should betheirs as well. But this larger debate of public policy should not bepermitted to hinder the progress of special-needs students. Wheretheir lives, futures, and happiness are at stake, we should have noagenda except to ease the path they are on. And the best way to dothat is to give their parents options.In a McCain-Palin administration, we will also fully fund theIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act. To his great credit, itwas President Gerald Ford who signed the legislation that became theIDEA -- establishing new standards of respect and inclusion for youngAmericans with disabilities. From that day to this, however, thefederal government's obligations under the IDEA have not beenadequately met. And portions of IDEA funding have actually decreasedsince 2005.This is a matter of how we prioritize the money that we spend. We'vegot a three trillion dollar budget, and Congress spends some 18billion dollars a year on earmarks for political pet projects. That'smore than the shortfall to fully fund the IDEA. And where does a lotof that earmark money end up? It goes to projects having little ornothing to do with the public good -- things like fruit fly researchin Paris, France, or a public policy center named for the guy who gotthe earmark. In our administration, we're going to reform and refocus.We're going to get our federal priorities straight, and fulfill ourcountry's commitment to give every child opportunity and hope in life.For many parents of children with disabilities, the most valuablething of all is information. Early identification of a cognitive orother disorder, especially autism, can make a life-changingdifference. That's why we're going to strengthen NIH. We're going towork on long-term cures, and in the short-term, we're going to work ongiving these families better information.Once a condition is known, parents need the best and latestinformation on what to expect and how to respond. This service is alsoprovided for under the IDEA. And we will make sure that every familyhas a place to go for support and medical guidance. The existingprograms and community centers focus on school-age children --overlooking the need for assistance before school-age.But it would make a lot more sense for these centers to focus as wellon infants and toddlers. This is not only a critical stage fordiagnosis; it can also be a crucial time to prepare the family for allthat may lie ahead. Families need to know what treatments are mosteffective, and where they are available, what costs they will face,and where aid can be found, and where they can turn for the advice andsupport of others in their situation. As Todd and I and Heather know,there's no substitute for the friendship of those who have been wherewe are now.The IDEA is also intended to serve teens and young adults with specialneeds. And here, too, there is an opportunity to reform and extend thereach of federal support under the IDEA. By modernizing a current law,the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, we can better serve students withdisabilities in our high schools and community colleges. This willrequire reform by the states as well. Just as the federal governmentexpects proven results in the progress of other students, we mustrequire results as well in the achievements of students withdisabilities. And the result we will expect is simple: that everyspecial-needs student be given a chance to learn the skills to work,and enjoy the freedom to live independently if that is their choice.As families across America know, the care of special-needs childrenrequires long-term planning, and especially financial planning. Acommon practice among these families is to establish financial trusts.These are known as special needs trusts, covering years of medical andother costs, and for parents they bring invaluable comfort.Understandably, then, many families with special-needs children ordependent adults are concerned that our opponent in this electionplans to raise taxes on precisely those kinds of financialarrangements. They fear that Senator Obama's tax increase will haveserious and harmful consequences -- and they are right. The burdenthat his plan would impose upon these families is just one moreexample of how many plans can be disrupted, how many futures can beplaced at risk, and how many people can suffer when the power to taxis misused.Our opponent has an ideological commitment to higher taxes. And thoughhe makes adjustments on his tax plan pronouncements seemingly by theday, his commitment to increase taxes remains the same. John McCainand I have just the opposite commitment. We intend to lower taxes,promote growth, and protect the earnings and savings of Americanfamilies.Not long ago, I spent some time at a place in Cleveland called theMichael T. George Center, a beautiful home for adults with DownSyndrome and other disabilities. I met Michael George, too, a boy offive with Down Syndrome. Michael is a healthy, sweet, joy-filledlittle man -- and I saw in him all the things I wish for Trig in justa few years.Michael's parents, Tony and Kris George, are advocates for childrenwith special needs in their community. They are thinking far ahead, intheir own boy's life and in the lives of others. They named the centerafter their son. It's a public-private partnership. This welcomingplace -- and so many others like it -- shows the good heart ofAmerica. They are places of hope. They are the works of people whobelieve that every life matters, everyone has something to contribute,and every child should have things to look forward to, andachievements to point to with pride and joy. As many of you knowbetter than I, it can be a hard path, and yet all the more joyful andproductive when the barriers are overcome.John McCain and I have a vision in which every child is loved andcherished, and that is the spirit I want to bring to Washington. Tothe families and caregivers of special-needs children all across thiscountry, I do have a message: For years, you sought to make America amore welcoming place for your sons and daughters. And I pledge to youthat if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in theWhite House.Thank you all, and God bless you.