Sarah Palin: The Voice of Special Needs Families
Baptist Press’ Nov. 24, 2008 issue carries a story about former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her commitment to various causes of special needs and their families.
Pro-life leader and mother of a special needs child, Marjorie Dannenfelser, highlighted the fact that Sarah Palin’s campaign and candidacy helped make people aware of and even encouraged appreciation for children with special needs. The Alaskan governor gave birth to her 5th child, Trig, in April 2008. The child was prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome.
While Sarah Palin was busy campaigning, several advocates of special needs children joined Kansas Republican Senator Sam Brownback in pushing for the passage of a bill addressing the increasing rate of abortion for special needs children. Eventually, the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act was made into law by President George Bush last October 08, 2008.
Sarah Palin and her son, Trig, have become the “voice” of parents of children with Down syndrome and other conditions. Sarah Palin had said that her son’s birth has become a “joyful challenge” and more of a “priority” than a burden.
View the full article about Sarah Palin as a voice of Special Needs Families.
About Sarah Palin:
Sarah Louise Heath was born on February 11, 1964 in Sandpoint, Idaho. Her family transferred to Alaska when she was still a baby.
Alaska’s current governor finished her Bachelor of Science degree in communications-journalism at the University of Idaho in 1987. While at the university, she came out victorious in the Miss Wasilla Pageant and went on to compete and finish 3rd in the Miss Alaska pageant of 1984. She took home the recognition for Miss Congeniality and a college scholarship.
Sarah Palin’s first job was with Anchorage’s KTUU-TV and KTVA-TV where she was a sports reporter. She also worked with Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman.
In 1992 and 1995, Sarah Palin was elected to the Wasilla city council. She was only 28 years old when she first ran for the position. Her 2nd term at the city council was cut short when she ran for mayor in 1996.
Sarah Palin ran for re-election in 1999 and won 74% of the votes. That year, Sarah Palin also became the president of the Alaska Conference Mayors.
When she won the governorship of Alaska in 2006, Sarah Palin made history as the 1st woman to hold the office.