January 4, 2019 | By: Leslie Curtis
Categories: Family Support
Working in health care for 24 years, I have met many strong people and seen true acts of bravery. But over the past month, I think I have met the bravest of them all.
My husband and I received a phone call on a Saturday from a lady we didn't know. She said she had something to show us involving our son Jackson. Of course, we told her to come over to our house immediately. We could tell the urgency in her voice. This dear lady came to our house with her daughter. As soon as we invited her in, I knew she was not coming for a happy reason.
She had come to show us a video she had taken of our son. Then she began to cry and said," I know I am going to lose my job, but this is the right thing to do." This woman, who I had never met, had recorded my son being in distress in the PE gym. He was curled up in a ball on the floor. A teacher's aide scooted him along the ground with her foot, while she and the teacher continued looking at their cell phones.
By the time she showed us the video, she was really crying. And my husband and I were both in shock and at a loss for words. This dear lady has 6 children and obviously needs her job. But she also knew that she needed to speak up for our son.
She opened our eyes to a nightmare situation going on at our son's school that we are currently addressing. But the bravery of this woman will never be forgotten. She will be another one of those guardian angels that has been placed along our path in our journey with Jac.
Over the years, parents of children with disabilities and special health care needs have told us many stories about dealing with bias, unfairness, racism, ableism or discrimination against their child.
Categories: Family Support
As technology advances, it brings exciting possibilities and challenges.
Categories: Family Support
As the parent of a child with mild Cerebral Palsy, I learned that the word “hurry” doesn’t apply to my son, Jason. With motor planning difficulties, hurrying just wasn’t something he could do. I learned to adapt and accommodate our schedule to allow extra time. However, when I found myself in the situation of caring for elderly parents & parents-in-law, and our son, I struggled to find the patience I once had with Jason.
Categories: Family Support