Conference
continued from page 1
community, however, and today
she travels to Washington, D.C., to
meet and share stories with others
who have the same genetic, chro
mosomal disorder. McIntosh, 38,
will be one of a handful of North
westerners attending the Nation
al Down Syndrome Congress’ an
nual conference.
“I am excited,” McIntosh said
with enthusiasm. “I am going to
talk to people with disabilities,
Down syndrome and people who
are handicapped.”
The conference is held in vari
44 The conference really
gives you a good idea
about the lives of people
with Down syndrome.
Moms even come who
know they are carrying a
Down syndrome child.
It's just a great thing.
Carol Smith
mother of
Heather Smith,
conference attendee
ous places each year; this year’s
conference begins Friday and
runs through Sunday under the
theme “Celebrating rights, liberty
and justice ... for ALL people.”
Seattle resident Carol Smith in
vited Mcintosh to accompany her
and Smith’s daughter Heather, af
ter Heather and McIntosh met
during a vacation sponsored by
TRIPS, a local organization that
chaperones excursions for devel
opmentally-disabled travelers.
McIntosh and Heather met in
Las Vegas and “they became fast
friends,” Smith said. Smith has
attended the conference with
Heather for the past several years,
and guesses “that less than 20
[people] will attend from the Ore
gon/Washington area.”
Between 2,000 and 3,500 peo
pie overall are expected to attend
this year’s event, which is mostly
for .parents and families with
Down syndrome connections, but
is open to anyone.
“All kinds of people speak at
the convention [and] there are
workshops for parents and kids,”
Carol Smith said. “The confer
ence really gives you a good idea
about the lives of people with
Down syndrome. Moms even
come who know they are carrying
a Down syndrome child. It’s just a
great thing.”
Down syndrome is a genetic
disorder that includes a combina
tion of birth defects including
characteristic facial features,
some degree of mental impair
ment, often heart defects, visual
and hearing impairment and oth
er health problems. It is one of the
most common genetic birth de
fects and affects about one in 800
to 1,000 babies. About 350,000 in
dividuals in this country have
Down syndrome.
McIntosh has already registered
fora variety of workshops that the
conference offers, including an art
workshop and an advocacy work
shop.
“This conference really gives
them a sense of worth, and helps
their lives,” Carol Smith said.
McIntosh isn’t the only one
who is thrilled about her trip. Her
best friend and housemate, Julie
Prince, is also happy for her.
“Julie is kind of more like my
mom sometimes,” McIntosh said.
Prince, 41, who also has Down
syndrome, expressed excitement
that McIntosh would be repre
senting their shared views on
Down syndrome.
“It’s great — she is going as a
daughter, a friend and a sister,”
she said, smiljng as she held
McIntosh’s hand.
For more information about
The National Down Syndrome
Congress or the conference, call 1
800-232-NDSC. You can also look
at the Web site at www.ndsccen
ter.org/2000conv.htm. For infor
mation about the Down Syn
drome Society call
1-800-221-4602.
Oregon delegate’s floor speech
announcing vote for George W. Bush
Each state at the GOP national
convention makes a short speech
before announcing the state’s
votes for George W. Bush. Here’s
what Oregon delegation chairman
and state party chairman Perry
Atkinson said:
“The great sovereign state of
Oregon, which gave new hope and
pioneer spirit to a young America,
stands united from the Wallowa
mountains and the rural farmland
in the East to the historic region in
the South. From the great
Willamette Valley all the way to
America’s longest and most beau
tiful public beaches. Mr. Secretary,
we stand united to give America a
new hope tonight. In Oregon we
are working to keep control of the
state House and the state Senate,
we are working to take back the
Secretary of State’s office with
Lynn Snodgrass, the state Treasur
er, and the honorable Kevin Man
nix to be elected the next state at
torney general. We are working to
elect John Lindsey, Brian Boquist
and the honorable Charles Starr to
join the honorable Greg Walden in
the U.S. Congress. And Oregon is
the home of one great Senator, Sen
ator Gordon Smith.”
Atkinson passed the micro
phone to Smith, who concluded:
“Mr. Chairman, Oregonians want a
president who will not leave be
hind its farmers and foresters and
fishermen. Oregon wants a presi
dent who knows how to educate
children. Oregonians want a presi
dent who will keep their taxes low
and foster peace in the world and
not war. Oregon wants a president
who understands us in the West,
and we unanimously cast our
proud 24 votes for the next presi
dent and vice president of the
United States, George W. Bush
and Dick Cheney.”
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