Two weeks ago, I wrote a column addressing handicapped parking. I have never, yes never, received so many responses. I really didn’t think that many people read my column.
Apparently, I struck a nerve. Reader responses ranged from transporting grandma in a wheelchair ... no handicapped parking spaces ... to taking my blind child to the doctors ... no handicapped parking spaces.
Thanks readers for writing and hang in there. Our family has ... for 32 years, 9 months, 28 days and 6 hours.
Some city official or legislator should take note. Parking should be the easiest of our challenges.
Recently, I saw a mom and dad having dinner with their adult daughter. They seemed to enjoy every moment of their meal together.
When the daughter spoke, I could tell she had speech difficulties. It wasn’t until the family completed their dinner and stood up, when I noticed their beautiful white-haired daughter. She had Down syndrome and looked to be about 50 or so.
I asked the family if they lived locally. They mentioned they were from Boston.
I asked them who they were visiting in Missouri, and together, they responded with “Branson.” Their special-needs daughter wanted to visit Branson, so that is what they did.
This family was remarkable. Not only was their daughter’s long life amazing, Mom and Dad’s record was likewise. They were still full-time parents in their late 70s.
It is very sad that our government only recognizes the needs of adults with disabilities, or our elderly population, if they choose to live in a state facility. States continue to force individuals (and their Medicaid dollars) into state nursing homes, boarding houses, habilitation centers, or group homes. The government must think there are no costs if one chooses to live at home.
Where do you think the beautiful daughter with Down syndrome would like to live? Would she want to be separated from her family, and nondisabled persons, and placed in a home where all are disabled? That would be segregation.
It’s interesting that school districts implement inclusion, where a student is integrated into the general school population and not just a special-education room. That movement took forever.
So what occurs when a student graduates and all of a sudden, the same federal dollars place them back into a separate learning and living environment, with only disabled peers, such as a nursing or group home?
If Grandma, or cousin Cathy, desire to live in a home with friends who have disabilities then, that is wonderful. But to force anyone to live in a state facility with strangers, in order for them to access state programs, is very, very wrong.
I’m on my soap box again. I need to get a breath of fresh air.
Thanks for listening.
