Yesterday I had the chance to be on tv3 Winchester along with the parents of other special needs children in the area. Mothers of beautiful wonderful children who will be affected by the closing of the Child Development Center. We sat in a room with Hattie Cheek, the news reporter, and we poured our hearts out to her. I talked about our experiences with the CDC and how wonderful that resource is in our town. The two mothers, Shelly and Sharon, spoke of the brick wall they ran into because the center is closing. Shelly is fighting to get her son tested because the Frederick County school system won't do it! Sharon need a letter of medical necessity to get her son the help he needs. She now has to go to the back of the line... and we were especially fortunate to have Audrey with us. This sweet lady took time on her birthday weekend, and don't forget it was Mother's Day too, to come in and share her expertise. We explained to Hattie that the CDC doesn't just help children with autism... it helps people with other intellectual disabilities as well. There are a lot of families that will suffer with the closing of this facility.
And here's what really gets me: I am almost 100 percent certain that everybody in this town knows someone with a child that has special needs. And if you don't know them yet, you will. Yet people are completely happy to sit with their hands in their lap, watching these families struggle. They are certain that someone else will step in and help with the problem. Is it so terribly difficult to sign the petition and share it with your friends and family? Is it so difficult to stand up for those beautiful children who can't stand up for themselves?
A long time ago in New York City, a young girl was raped and murdered in broad daylight with 25 witnesses standing idly by. Each one of those witnesses thought someone else was going to do something... they did...They stood by and watched that poor girl die. Group apathy. Disgusting.
What is it going to take for people to stand up for what's right?
I told Hattie last night that we weren't going away without a fight. I'm fighting for my son, for my friends sons and daughters, for the little babies who haven't been diagnosed yet as well as for the parents who would walk through hell with bare feet just to make sure their child has every opportunity to succeed in life.
Will you fight with me? Make a phone call or send a letter to anyone in the position of authority that may have some influence. If you're not sure, call and mail them anyways! Go to NSVAR.org and click the link for the petition. Sign it, and then share it with your family and friends.
Please. We need your help.
No comments:
Post a Comment