In every way imaginable, we have lost the ability as a society to tolerate anything deemed “imperfect.” We demand fairness, we demand equal treatment, we insist on good service, and we do not compromise when we feel that we have been wronged. This has spread to parents trying to clear the paths for their kids so everything will be “perfect” for them.

But what happens when life isn’t fair or perfect? What happens when society at large decides that your child is “less than perfect?” Should parents try to “fix” or “cure” their children with disabilities like Down Syndrome or autism?

An article written by Amy Julia Becker for Vox describes her internal debate on research that offers a possible cognitive “fix” to her daughter with Down Syndrome.

Ethicists, theologians, and medical doctors have all answered some version of those questions over the years. Some see Down syndrome as a biological problem, a birth defect in need of fixing. Others see Down syndrome as a naturally occurring condition with its own possibilities and limitations.

These two perspectives may soon have practical implications: New research on the brains of people with Down syndrome is raising the possibility of treatment for some of its cognitive effects. The question becomes: As a parent, should I pursue treatments for my daughter, or do I embrace her just as she is?