President Obama,
Congratulations on your reelection! I was one of the millions who
voted for you, and as the mother of a teenage boy with autism, I am grateful that you did so much in your first term to help families coping with autism. When you signed the Combating Autism Act legislation on
September 30, 2011, which assured continued federal support for autism
research, services and treatment for another three years, many parents
of children with autism cheered. Declaring World Autism Awareness Day on
April 2 was another important step.
People with autism and their families look forward to the hope and
change that you spoke of in your acceptance speech today. Here are a few
facts about us that I hope you will keep in mind during the next four
years.
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Special Needs and the Magic Kingdom
Jeremy Robb's piece from Technorati.
Several parents have talked about their experiences taking their child with autism to Disneyland. Some parents have shared their experiences and advice which I have always found helpful. In fact, I've posted about this previously myself. I really wanted to share my recent experience.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Families Offer Varying Views on Va. Disability Care Options
LYNCHBURG, Va. -- The state's final public hearing on institutions for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities this week brought out impassioned parents, relatives and advocates on both sides of a complex issue.
Some see large institutions, such as Lynchburg's Central Virginia Training Center, the largest and oldest, as needlessly segregating Virginians with disabilities from the rest of society.
They also say institutions' costly care — estimated at several thousand more than equivalent services in the community — are a drain on funding that could be used to move those training center residents into any number of community settings.
And it could help pay for thousands on waiting lists to receive services in their communities.
Some see large institutions, such as Lynchburg's Central Virginia Training Center, the largest and oldest, as needlessly segregating Virginians with disabilities from the rest of society.
They also say institutions' costly care — estimated at several thousand more than equivalent services in the community — are a drain on funding that could be used to move those training center residents into any number of community settings.
And it could help pay for thousands on waiting lists to receive services in their communities.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Man with Down Syndrome Raises American Flag
A belated Independence Day posting!
AMHERST, Ohio - This morning, like every morning, John Hall wakes up earlier than the rest of his household, puts on his Marine dress blues and marches an American flag out to the flagpole in his Amherst front yard. Carefully, with the delicacy and proper attention that a true serviceman could afford, he raises this American symbol into the sky.
Except Hall isn’t a Marine. The Ohio native is a lifelong appreciator of the American military and a lover of the symbol of America: the American flag. Born with Down syndrome, Hall has found an alternative to going abroad to serve his country by honoring his country in his own home.
“You’ll watch him from the window, and he’ll march exactly like a real Marine, even when no one else is around,” older sister Joyce Cooper said.
Hall has been taking care of the flag for years, even before he had his Marine uniform. He performed the ritual with his father, Charles Hall, a WWII Navy veteran, before the elder Hall died a few years ago. John Hall now continues the tradition solo.
“He’s very proud of that - he’ll say ‘My daddy was in the Navy,’ ” Cooper said. John Hall has always loved everything military-related, but began dressing in uniform more consistently in honor of his father.
AMHERST, Ohio - This morning, like every morning, John Hall wakes up earlier than the rest of his household, puts on his Marine dress blues and marches an American flag out to the flagpole in his Amherst front yard. Carefully, with the delicacy and proper attention that a true serviceman could afford, he raises this American symbol into the sky.
Except Hall isn’t a Marine. The Ohio native is a lifelong appreciator of the American military and a lover of the symbol of America: the American flag. Born with Down syndrome, Hall has found an alternative to going abroad to serve his country by honoring his country in his own home.
“You’ll watch him from the window, and he’ll march exactly like a real Marine, even when no one else is around,” older sister Joyce Cooper said.
Hall has been taking care of the flag for years, even before he had his Marine uniform. He performed the ritual with his father, Charles Hall, a WWII Navy veteran, before the elder Hall died a few years ago. John Hall now continues the tradition solo.
“He’s very proud of that - he’ll say ‘My daddy was in the Navy,’ ” Cooper said. John Hall has always loved everything military-related, but began dressing in uniform more consistently in honor of his father.
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