Joanne Lara, a Los Angeles special educator and founder of Autism Movement Therapy and Aut-erobics, says there is no reason to "stop everything" as some have implied, because most women work and most women with a special needs child work outside the home, as well.

"A parent of a Down syndrome child -- depending on the extent of the disability -- may have to address some physical issues but most children need speech and language therapy and perhaps therapy for fine motor skills -- some before school begins. But once school begins all these services occur during school," Lara told United Press International.

"The role of a parent such as Sarah Palin -- or family member, grandparent or in-law -- is to chauffeur the child to therapy and talk to the therapist and then share what the therapist has to say with the rest of the family. Services are available, each provided differently state by state but they should be available -- if everything goes the way it's supposed to."

"The biggest issue -- and some are confusing this with the mothering role is that the child needs friends -- that's the biggest issue with special needs children, they need friends," Lara said.