I applaud the subject matter- but am disappointed with the articulation and framework where what happened to animals is mentioned in the first paragraph and people aren't mentioned until the fourth- and even then they are spoken about in an outdated and offensive manner.
I see that Ms. Ernst has not heard of people- first language? It's "people with cognitive disabilities"- NOT "mentally retarded people"- I expect an author associated with change.org not to devalue marginalized people by using outdated language and burying them in the recesses of the article.