The Need for a Dialogue Commentary on Stowe et al., Journal on Developmental

(this issue), I was left with two questions and one prediction. The two questions were: What is good science? and What is good practice? The prediction was that as the genetic era continues to emerge, issues related to quality of life and clinical judgment will become paramount. The purpose of this invited response is to continue the dialogue begun in the article when the authors discussed such topics as the bright and dark history of medical progress; the ethical, legal, and social implications of [genetic] scientific inquiry; the ELSI projects and the public dialogue on the implications of genetic research for persons with disability; and the effects of the genetic revolution on the family and society. I would like to contribute to this dialogue based on two endeavors that I have been involved in over the last few years: first, our attempts to conceptualize, measure, and apply the concept of quality of life to persons with intellectual and closely related developmental disabilities (Brown, Keith, & Schalock, 2004; Schalock, 2005; Schalock & Verdugo, 2002); and second, our recen