I couldn’t believe it.
A friend messaged me on facebook, asking me what on earth was going on with Noah’s Dad and the IDSC (- The International Down syndrome Coalition). I had no idea, but after only a few quick minutes of scoping around, found out.
In a nutshell, The IDSC changed their logo – they just removed their tagline, “All Life is Precious”. That’s it. No changes to their Mission Statement, no changes in their website or what they stand for: just a logo change.
Like…. this
Or like… this
Logos change! And taglines aren’t usually part of a logo – and if they are, then they are usually the part that goes when a logo gets streamlined!
Noah’s Dad is hungry desperate for attention
When Rick Smith, aka “Noah’s Dad” heard of the logo change, he decided that because the IDSC removed “All Life is Precious” from their logo, they were suddenly PRO ABORTION!
Let me repeat this: the IDSC changes its logo – not the Mission! – and Rick Smith is screaming that they are pro-abortion from his paid-pulpit of Facebook.
But that’s not all – when the community and the IDSC tried to reason with him, he slashed at them, started deleting comments and then actually blocked people from his page.
I have a hard time actually wrapping my head around his type of extremism and I know that I shouldn’t even be writing about this, it’s SEO fuel for his fodder and all, but it’s like,
WOULD. YOU. JUST. STOP. ALREADY, RICK?!
I mean, dude, we have people with Down syndrome being killed out there, we have judges willing to give new trials to rapists of girls with Down syndrome, we have access and inclusion issues, we have the ABLE act to pass, we have BIGGER SHIT ON OUR PLATES TO FACE THAN A FRIGGING LOGO TAGLINE.
Rick Smith putting the time and energy into this, using the clout he has to slander an organization that has only shown love and pro-action toward people with Down syndrome is a crying shame and seriously makes me question whether anything he has ever done was actually for Down syndrome or for himself.
//end rant.
Meriah Nichols is a counselor. Solo mom to 3 (one with Down syndrome, one on the spectrum). Deaf, and neurodiverse herself, she’s a gardening nerd who loves cats, Star Trek, and takes her coffee hot and black.
Once a dick, always a dick! He’s a hateful, vile person. And he doesn’t speak for me or for my kid with Down syndrome!
Amen! Posted a picture to my FB page – “Your beliefs don’t make you a better person, your behavior does.” That is specifically aimed at him!
With you all the way! His actions are deplorable. Get ready for the backlash.
Meriah, you rock!
I gave Noah’s dad and Saving Down Syndrome a chance to correct their actions. Jumping to conclusion and pointing fingers is NOT the way to show, give and advocate for the Down syndrome community. We should be working together not against and IDSC has tried to keep everyone on the same path since this all started. It’s to bad that the other two organizations had strayed from said path and lost the reason for the mission. I have and always will refer people I meet to go and visit the IDSC sites when they are searching for more information. I have dislike their pages/links and will not refer anyone to visit Noah’s dad or Saving Down syndrome. I can not in good conscience refer someone to an organization that doesn’t do their research and ask questions first before attacking another. Keep up the good work IDSC, the Down syndrome community and their family’s needs you all.
I’ve been waiting for your response!
It would appear that he has removed the post from FB, but he still owes IDSC an apology for his disgusting behavior towards them. Excellent, well written!!
There is a statement from Saving Downs on their Facebook page regarding their role. Please refer to that in considering your statements.
Wasn’t their statement written an hour ago? Not sure what it has to do with this post, Mike.
It relates to your comment of an alleged “smear campaign” by Saving Downs which is entirely false. I only came across this blog when a link was posted to a comment on the Facebook thread about our own statement. I wanted you to be aware of our position so that your statements are accurate. From Saving Downs perspective this had nothing to do with a logo, but about our important submission to the U.S Supreme Court that we made jointly with the IDSC. As we have said, we are pleased that the IDSC have stated that they continue to support the joint brief to the U.S. Supreme Court. The IDSC have, in their own statement, outlined the circumstances of misinformation they posted inadvertently around this.
What Rick, or anyone else has said, has no bearing on Saving Downs.
There could be a silver lining here…
I always thought that IDSC was an anti-choice or religious org, because the tag line gave me that impression. If the tag line is gone, that could be a good thing. How about “There is No Such Thing as a Lesser Person” – a better tag line perhaps?
As for Rick Smith: I have a profound dislike for those who seek to exploit children with disabilities in order to gain favors, access, or status. Unlike Rick, I don’t aim to show anyone that “having Ds is OK” (thereby suggesting that the status quo perceives someone with Ds as *not* being OK). My kid with Ds and I aren’t here to inspire anyone – nor are we the object of pity. Like any family, we are just going about our lives, trying to call bullshit when we see it and not let the bastards get us down.