Families rally for support for children with disabilities

link to article - it has a video

By Stephanie Wang | Monday, March 16, 2009, 03:10 PM

Dozens of families raising children with disabilities gathered at the South Steps today to support a slew of proposed legislation that would ease the challenges of providing care for their kids.

Several groups, including Texas Parents Advocating for Community Services, Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas and Texas Parent to Parent, donned light-blue t-shirts and waved signs with the same message: “The word retarded causes pain. Use intellectual disability instead.”

That’s just one of the issues they hope to address this session. The “person first” respectful language bill would stop the Legislature and Health and Human Services from using the phrase “mental retardation.” The advocates also pushed legislation that would reform state schools for Texans with disabilities, ease access to Medicaid, open employment opportunities and help train teachers how to guide students with disabilities.

In light of the “fight club” allegations in Corpus Christi, the lobbyists were particularly adamant about finding ways to improve state schools. When an Austin father spoke about considering putting his second-grade son, who has Down’s Syndrome, in a state institution for a day as a loophole to expedite getting Medicaid support, shouts of “Don’t do it!” were heard from the crowd.

It’s been five years since 8-year-old Liam Howell first joined the Medicaid waiting list — and he’s been told it will be another five years before his request can be processed. But his parents said they have seriously considered trying to place Liam in a nursing home just for a day to trigger Medicaid funds that would help pay for summer camp, therapy and an aide for their son.

The goal is to educate Liam early on “how to be a regular member of society,” said his mother, Adele Plausce.

“You’re really taking your chances,” she said. “We don’t feel good about going to the top of the list, but you do what you have to do for your child.”

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