Re: Disability Benefits
Jo Ellen Finkelstein (ghellen(AT)ninenet.com)
Wed, 27 Jan 1999 21:35:24 -0600
THous65004(AT)aol.com wrote:
>
> Hi Charles,
> Thank you for your suggestions, I will follow up on them. Your suggestion to
> visit the school counselor, however, brought up some unpleasant memories, so I
> just need to vent. There are many good supportive counselors, but we are not
> so fortunate to have one. Prior to the onset of this disease in April 98,
> Tera had been a cheerleader for all 4 years of highschool, the last two as
> captain. When she began school this year, Tera had difficulty walking any
> distance, and tired very easily. It took all she had just to get from room to
> room. I asked the counselor if she could park in the teachers lot, which was
> closer to the rooms. I was told that was not possible, and if she couldn't
> manage the walking, maybe she shouldn't be on the cheer squad.(at the time she
> wasn't cheering of course, but did alot of organizing events & coaching the
> younger members.) I discussed this with her doctor, and he signed a request
> for a handicapped parking permit. When Tera showed up with that at school,
> she caused quite a stir. Unknown to me, the counselor called her in and said
> that it wasn't proper for a cheerleader to be calling herself handicapped and
> maybe she should quit the squad. Tera stood her ground and told the counselor
> that there was nothing in the rules disqualifying anyone with a disability and
> she would take the matter to the school board if necessary, because she knew
> there were laws protecting the rights of the disabled. I was very upset with
> the whole thing, when I found out. Tera asked me to not get involved, as she
> had handled it. But I couldn't believe that on top of all the trauma of the
> disease itself, she had to go through such emotional upset due to the schools
> ignorance. She no longer uses the permit, because she is doing much better,
> but I think some days she would use it if they didn't cast such a stigma on
> it.
> Sorry for such a long post, but I have kept this bottled up inside, and when I
> saw school counselor, I needed to vent.
> Thanks, StaceyHi Stacy, Joellen here. Hope you guys told that !(AT)#$$%$%$(AT)#(AT)(AT)!%#^%%
where to go! (no real word there just insert your own name for such a
narrow minded individual) Tera is to be applauded for trying to keep
her life as close to normal as she can. How anyone with a degree in
counseling can express such short-sighted opinions is beyond me! Where
did she get her degree from, a paper-mill? Sorry after reading your
note I had to vent! I hate to say it but you may have more of these
hurdles to cross, it has to be even harder for Tera because she probably
looks quite "normal" to most people but we know better she's a super
teen! She has to work very hard to keep up with her friends (not
scholastically as she is probably getting great grades) . I hope she
continues to stand up for herself and finishes the year with a bang.
Joellen