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Here's the place to tell your story. Did you or a family member have a great experience? Do you know of a vacation or recreation spot that is accommodating and appropriate for families of a child with special needs?
I am writing to ask for your help and support in getting a law passed that would limit the time a child should be on a bus. My request stems from desperation and very personal experiences where my child was expected to sit on a bus for two hours to get to a place 10 minutes from our home.
I have a child with special needs, and from the beginning of his bus transportation experience and every new school or new school year my husband and I have had to go to extreme measures to ensure a reasonable bus experience for our son. I would first talk with the school administrators, then the bus company and their drivers, but even after several weeks of talking and waiting for any schedule adjustments, the bus schedule wouldn't change. Then my husband would have to follow the bus route documenting the time for each stop and when the bus reached its destination, to finally get action taken that ensured that the time on the bus for our son was reasonable.
My son is now 6 years old. For the first time we were sending him to camp which was only 10 minutes from our home. Not only did we not get a phone call from the bus company about the time they would be arriving to pick up my son, when I finally contacted them, I was told that my son would be picked up two hours before his program started. This made no sense. The program was 10 minutes away from our home. A two hour ride is just child cruelty.
The fact that every year the same problem about bus pick up occurs shows that the bus companies are unable or unwilling to fix the problem. I believe it is time to put the child first and the bus company's agenda last. I understand that the bus company is in business to make money, however not at the expense of the children. A bus route should be child friendly not profit friendly.
I ask for your guidance and support in my efforts to resolve this recurring bus problem. I would like to get a law passed that mandates a scheduled bus ride to be no more than 60 minutes.
Thank you for your time and efforts towards this situation. Your expertise in this area is greatly needed and appreciated.
This has been a result of an oppurtunity and a promise I made to my son. I will do the best I can to help him in any way I can. I have found many examples of courage and determination in my travels. This is designed to share my experience, strength, and hope with you.
I believe that God entrusted our children to us because we are special. I know it's tiring, but God will give you strength for one day (give us this day our daily bread/strenghth).
I believe that faith without works is dead. If you believe in your child, show them and do what you have to do.
I believe that because I am tested and suffer I am able to help others that are being tested (Hebrews 2:18).
I believe that if we do things with love in our hearts it will unblock channels and help us see more clearly.
I believe that in helping each other we create a bond of love that no one can break.
I believe we are all God's children, but that He is really present in our children's lives and that he will lead us to people, places and things that will help our children. How many coincidences have you noticed in your child's life? That is God.
I believe there are angels in this world and they are the trained professionals, family and friends that help us deal with our children.
I believe when you take care of your own needs, you are better able to help your child. It is not selfish. It is self caring. If you do it, good for you! If not, start. Do one thing for yourself a day and add what you can.
I believe God is on our side. If God is for us who can be against us?
I believe that I can not fix my son's Autism in one day. It is a process. Persevere in your own struggle!
I believe that every struggle is an oppurtunity for growth. We are being blessed with the opportunity to be better people.
Never give up on your child and never give up on yourself! I believe that you can do what needs to be done with God's help and the angels he sends your way.
Keep the faith!!!!! Love, Lee Ann
[Back to Top]What would you do? You make the choice!
My question to all of you is: Would you have made the same choice?
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: "When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?"
The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat that child." Then he told the following story:
Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."
Shay struggled over to the team's bench put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his Father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over, but the pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to second base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay"shay reached third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching were on their feet were screaming, "Shay, run home! Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.
That day, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world.
Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his Father so happy and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
Share this story with your child's teacher's, therapists, doctors, family, and friends. We could all use a reminder to rely on our heart for our actions, and that "winning" the game doesn't necessarily make you a winner. I wish for you and your family peace, love, and many experiences of humanity.
Remember to visit Special Needs Awareness.org often. [Back to Top]