Information and opinions on Friends Of Quinn from Marcie Lipsitt at FriendsOfQuinn.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219 http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219 http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/285/friendsofquinn Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:13:09 -0400 Marcie Lipsitt   Today I say goodbye to FriendsofQuinn and the Health Central Network.  I say goodbye with both thanks and sadness.  I will miss the growing community on FriendsofQuinn but need to continue my writing, advocacy and activism as I have for more than thirty-five years on blogs, listservs, and newspapers and in the local, state and federal legislative arenas.     So I leave all who read my last blog with... http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/285/friendsofquinn http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/235/pediatric-disorder Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:21:29 -0400 Marcie Lipsitt Quinn Bradlee's father, Ben Bradlee of the Washington Post, has said that no entity does investigative reporting better than newspapers.  He has defined "investigative reporting" as a "reporter or editor who gets a bee in his bonnet and decides to look into something in a major way."    I would agree with Mr. Bradlee that a host of investigative reports have led to the downfall of criminals of all colors and professions, and... http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/235/pediatric-disorder http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/161/grinch-awareness-day Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:08:22 -0400 Marcie Lipsitt I don't mean to sound like the Grinch who stole World Autism Awareness Day, or even the green-eyed monster, but I have some real issues with this "day" and America's views on autistic spectrum disorders.   I will start by saying that I am the mother of 20 year-old with early onset bipolar disorder and Asperger Syndrome (There's more but that is for another blog).  So my issues with World Autism Awareness Day have nothing to do with... http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/161/grinch-awareness-day http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/148/president-barack-moth Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:32:23 -0400 Marcie Lipsitt I have already blogged on President Obama's gaffe on Late Night with Jay Leno regarding the Special Olympics.  Still, the topic and the individual at the center of this teachable moment deserve more scrutiny, conversations and blogging.   Far too many of our citizenry and that includes the disability community have given President Obama a "get out of responsibility card" with a mere apology and White House invitation to some... http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/148/president-barack-moth http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/135/parent-choose-child Sun, 22 Mar 2009 02:19:00 -0400 Marcie Lipsitt "Who should we focus on-my disabled son or my gifted girl?"    My first question, who could ask such a thing?  My next question, who could think such a sinister thought?  I am about to be perhaps controversially honest here but so what's new?      All who know me are clear on one fact.  Nothing angers me more than the abuse of a child.  I often say that children do not ask to be born.  Think... http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/135/parent-choose-child http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/134/president-olympics Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:42:19 -0400 Marcie Lipsitt Leave it to a comedian to loosen-up even the most practiced and gifted of politicians, legislators and Presidents of the United States.  On March 19, President Barack Obama became the first sitting president to go on Late Night TV.  And, during several minutes of a lengthy and "seriously" funny interview - at least based upon the more typically in-and-out vapid nature of Late Night TV - the following repartee´ was exchanged... http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/134/president-olympics http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/130/egregious-violations Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:48:05 -0400 Marcie Lipsitt When your child is identified under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004 (IDEA 2004), he or she is then the recipient of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) that will guide their educational lives for as long as they are receiving special education programs and related services.  As a parent you want to believe that each and every special education and general education teacher; along with the social worker, school... http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/130/egregious-violations http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/120/moring-joe-basketball Sun, 08 Mar 2009 22:01:47 -0400 Marcie Lipsitt You are one of the almost 13 million parents of America's students with a disability.  Just imagine you had the opportunity for a relatively prestigious TV gig and question and answer session with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan.  You are on morning TV with millions of viewers watching, waiting and examining the merits of your every word.  In fact you are the host of a growing-in-popularity, cable news and radio show and you... http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/120/moring-joe-basketball http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/116/pictured-front-boston Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:57:14 -0500 Marcie Lipsitt On January 30, 2009 my son Andrew and I were pictured on the front page of the Boston Globe newspaper ("Doctor scrutinized for drug-firm ties gets kudos from bipolar patients, kin," Boston Globe 01-30-09).  We were in a story (non-fiction) regarding the growing attacks on pediatric bipolar disorder. Now, while one could say that I owe it all to Andrew that we were pictured on the front page of this esteemed national newspaper...the one or... http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/116/pictured-front-boston http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/114/response-president Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:27:03 -0500 Marcie Lipsitt Dear Readers:  I will apologize in advance for the following 1996 words.  Although what can one expect from a passionate crusader!   On February 24, 2009, Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, gave his first address to Congress.  This was followed by the Republican response given by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.  I will now give the response on behalf of our children with disabilities.  I... http://communities.friendsofquinn.com/share/c/88219/114/response-president