Julianne Barbato

Recent Activity

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  Julianne signed the petition | over 2 years ago

  Help Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act!
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  Julianne signed the petition | over 2 years ago

  Pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act
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  Julianne commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  My Hope of a Better Day: Equality, Quality, and Inclusion

  LOL--boy, do I ever appreciate what you've said! Big hug to your friend...and to YOU for even being interested in hearing about it and caring enough to share it.

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  Julianne commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  My Hope of a Better Day: Equality, Quality, and Inclusion

  Bless your heart, Melvin! That you are able to even comment so articulately whereas my brother is incapable of surviving without a constant caretaker--since he has the mind and abilities of a toddler, even at 43--points up the need to include ALL children and adults with special needs.
  
  We never "pampered" him, as you refer to it, but to get him even to the level he's at today required much effort, time, and focus. That he sports the shared features of those with Down syndrome naturally calls attention to his outward differences. That he is a loving, forgiving, and funny soul speaks to his similarities to, and maybe in some cases superiority over, the rest of us so-called normal people.

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  Julianne commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  My Hope of a Better Day: Equality, Quality, and Inclusion

  Dora--God bless you! You're doing GREAT!

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  Julianne commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  My Hope of a Better Day: Equality, Quality, and Inclusion

  Please DON'T FORGET ABOUT ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME. They have NO high-profile spokespeople. I guess it's not as fashionable as autism; perhaps less pleasant to look at? Seems that way to those of us who caretake our siblings with DS. I'm 53, a freelanced editor, uninsured, don't earn enough, and caretake my 43-yr-old DS brother. If I die, he's screwed.
  
  We MUST get creative and progressive, and to that end, we should give grants to green builders to work with the families of DS'ers to build COHOUSING communities that would feature DS adults as their star residents, along with us so-called normal people. Regardless of whether Wonkette thinks they should've been aborted, they're here, and we LOVE them. Show your true liberal stripes and open your minds and HEARTS! Let's help those who are dependent on us through no fault of their own. That's TRUE liberalism.