Dr David J Carey's Blog

Was in McDonald’s today. Saw a boy of about 10 years of age. He had, by the looks of it, a Moderate General Learning Disability. He was with his mother and sister. The love and attention they both gave to him made me smile and feel all glad and sad at the same time. I thought to myself how affirmed he was in the warmth of his family’s devotion to him. I saw the smile on his face and the glee with which he ate his burger and walked around the room. The utter joy he displayed just jumping up and down quietly for a few moments and his greater joy when his sister joined him in his jumping.

Then I thought of the struggle that mother has made to see to it he receives an education, proper assessment, therapy and health services. I thought of the greater struggle she will have to see to it he receives an appropriate care after he leaves school. Will he have an IEP that is worth more than then paper it’s written on? Will he get into a mainstream school? If so will he join a mainstream secondary school? Will he find his way into some sort of supported living arrangement? Will he live with his family all the days of his life?

I thought about her dreams while pregnant with that boy; how she imagined him a happy child, all grown up, married and with children. How hard it is for some parents, how difficult the journey.

A new school year will start soon. A country up to it’s chin in debt and shame for supporting bankers and developors. Even when the going was good there was no money for special education. It’s been lies and deceit for years.

What is ahead of us? What is ahead for that mother? Respite care? It’s a sad joke.

Am I being negative? Well, if so maybe you can enlighted me to the brighter side? Oh, yes, I know the bright side is the love of that family for that boy. I just wonder if the government will ever care one whit about children like this.

Oh well, that’s my rant for the day I guess.

And to the writer who thinks I’m a teacher basher-who cares about what you think? Go away, stop reading!