Special Protection for Special Needs

When a parent learns their child has disabilities or special needs, fears for the future begin immediately.

To support their family and meet their child’s needs, parents need help. Parent, face the reality that they will not live forever, and in order to support their child to live as independently as possible, he/she will need support services. How can we balance the need for safety with the ability for a person to live a life that includes friendships, community involvement and employment?

Over the past year, newspaper accounts have portrayed a dark picture of abuse and neglect of people with disabilities. Those accounts are a parent’s nightmare. When a family needs to access assistance for a person, who is elderly, or with disabilities, or in a program providing mental health or substance abuse services, there is a trust that the people providing services for their loved one will do just that: be caregivers and professionals in their treatment.

Peace of mind is what families and people with disabilities need. We struggle with navigating service systems and advocating for our loved one’s needs. This important legislation will help provide peace of mind that people can be safe and free from neglect and abuse.

Let us all spread a message of awareness to our dear and near for this noble cause