Unfettered Letters

‘Invisible Kansans’

  Jake Jacobs’ “As I see it” column (3/30, Opinion, “Developmentally disabled need more aid, not less”) discussed the Missouri government’s obvious lack of respect for individuals with developmental disabilities. I am sad to say that Kansas’ developmental disability population shares the same legislative plague. 

Former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey once said “the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”

In Kansas, we call 3,800 of those who are in the shadows of life “invisible Kansans.” These are individuals with developmental disabilities who are waiting for state legislators to allocate funding for desperately needed services.

I urge Kansas legislators to pass that moral test. It is time for them to “see” those 3,800 worthy Kansans and support legislation that takes them out of the shadows. Kansas legislators, rethink your priorities. Restore my faith that government can do the right thing.

Lurena Mead
Overland Park

Feeling blessed by others’ help

I just want to say that I’m one of the luckiest people in the metro area. About a year ago I contracted an MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infection in my spinal column. It left me unable to walk unassisted.

I can’t afford a fancy electric wheelchair, and the damage to the nerves precludes me from using a regular wheelchair. My walker is too heavy to get in and out of my truck, so I just use a cane the best that I can.

Here’s the lucky part: Day in, day out, I see people of all walks of life going out of their way to assist me any way they can. Young, old, rich or poor, I see people being nothing but nice to me. For that I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart.

God bless you all. You have made an old man’s life worth living one more day.

David Kelley
Blue Springs

Helping Kansans with disabilities

The Star got it right by prioritizing funding for folks with developmental disabilities (DD) for the Kansas Legislature (1/11, Opinion, “Tough session looms in Kansas”). I have compassion for the families of the 3,711 individuals on the statewide DD waiting list, who have been struggling for years with personal, financial, emotional, medical, educational and behavioral challenges.

It makes economic sense for the state to provide funding for folks with disabilities. For every $4 that the state allocates for DD services, the feds add $6. New provider jobs are created, generating new tax dollars.

When special education students transition into adult vocational programs from school, education costs are being maximized. When folks receive day or residential services, parents can continue to work, pay taxes and make house payments. The burden on the state will lessen as individuals gain independence.

When parents decide that they can’t keep their loved one at home, the alternative is to move them into the state’s DD hospital, where it will cost the state three to five times more than serving that person in the community.

Providing services in the community makes economic sense. More important, it is the right thing to do! For more information, go to www.invisiblekansans.org

Lurena Mead
Overland Park

Careful how you park in handicapped space

I want to apologize to the man in the blue van who recently was unable to get into his vehicle at the Summit Woods shopping center.

I went to Christmas shop for the first time after my husband died on Thanksgiving Day. It was so crowded! I finally found a handicapped space. After shopping, I left empty-handed and returned to a nice police officer who asked me if this was my vehicle. She proceeded to tell me the gentleman had waited for more than 30 minutes and wanted the citation written. I was about to be towed. I signed my name and cried all the way home.

I have since noticed that many people cross over the parallel loading lines between spaces. I was wrong for not parking exactly between the lines and thank God that I have not yet needed a wheelchair with my MS.

Be aware and be considerate of others on both sides of the line.

Pamela Hocker
Lee’s Summit

Open enrollment for Medicare Part D

On behalf of the American Stroke Foundation, I’d like to remind all seniors and those with disabilities who take part in the Medicare Part D benefit (prescription drug benefit) that now until Dec. 31 is open enrollment.

Medicare Part D beneficiaries can compare their plan against 48 other plans offered in Kansas and Missouri to make sure they’re getting the best plan that fits their needs. Each year, plans can change, and prescription needs can change as well.

In a national study, more than 80 percent of seniors have indicated they are satisfied with the Medicare Part D benefit. If you are satisfied with you plan, you won’t have to do anything to stay enrolled for next year. If you’d like to look around at other plans, please call 1-800-MEDICARE or go to www.medicare.gov

Patrick Ayers
President and CEO, American Stroke Foundation
Mission

Cheers for this cheerleader

It was hard to fight back the tears when reading the front page story on Kaylee Young, living her dream of being a high school cheerleader, even though she has Down syndrome (11/1, A-1, “Spirit and enthusiasm like this can’t be confined to the stands”).

The emotions were drawn from several levels of happiness, joy and faith in mankind when reading the article and hearing how this came to be. I would think each person who read this article felt the same — happiness for Kaylee to realize this dream, joy for her family to be able to witness this happiness, and faith in mankind for the willingness and effort by many to make this happen for Kaylee.

I have great respect for the Raymore-Peculiar High School personnel who allowed this, the cheerleaders who welcome her, and those who had early hesitation but have come to “cheer” on this loving act.

Hooray for everyone involved, and especially for Kaylee!

Marjorie Livingston
Overland Park

Donald Bradley’s article on the Young family of Raymore was one of the finest stories we’ve seen in a long time. In addition, this article was placed right where it belonged, on the front page.

The story reminds all families of children with special needs that there is hope. Children with special needs are often ridiculed and never given the opportunity to “fit in.”

The Youngs took a bold step and are admired by many for doing so. The school district also took a leap of faith and has shown the entire community how important it is to see a person’s abilities, not just disabilities.

As parents of a child with special needs, we hope that the Raymore-Peculiar School District’s position regarding Kaylee is someday the norm, not the exception.

Way to go, Kaylee, and kudos, Ray-Pec!

Bradd and Melissa Sutton
Raymore

I am writing to tell The Star what a great job they did by putting the article about Kaylee Young on the front page.

It is important for people to see that people with disabilities can still do things that we all do, and that they want to do the same things that we do. I think that it is wonderful that the Raymore-Peculiar School District is giving Kaylee this opportunity.

Keep up the good work, Ray-Pec School District and The Star.

Melanie Zeigler
Raymore

Dropping ‘retardation’ from name

The Missouri Planning Council would like to voice its support for the recent enacting of the name change of the Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities by Gov. Matt Blunt (10/17, Local). Self-advocates, their families and their supporters have pushed to remove the stigmatizing words “mental retardation” from the division’s name for more than 10 years.

The words “mental retardation” have come to carry a negative connotation for people with developmental disabilities in Missouri and across the nation, even for those who carry the official diagnosis. We commend Gov. Blunt for listening to the many voices of people who are served by the division and making this simple yet important change for a more respectful Missouri.

This change will not affect the focus of the division. “Developmental disability” is an inclusive term that does not single out any one diagnosis or label. The diagnosis of mental retardation is one of a variety of developmental disabilities. Using both terms in the title of the division was redundant.

The Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities is a federally funded, 23-member, consumer-driven council appointed by the governor.

Sixty percent of our membership consists of parents and self-advocates (people with disabilities).

Shelly Shetley
Chair, Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities
Kansas City

Pols’ stance on disabilities

As the parent of a young woman with a disability, I realize how helpful it would be to have a vice president who herself is a mother of a child with a disability. But it’s important for advocates of persons with disabilities to dig deeper and compare the stands of the Republican and Democratic candidates on disability issues.

Barack Obama much more consistently sponsors disability-related bills such as the Community Choice Act of 2007. This bill would provide equal access and resources for community services for persons with disabilities who choose to remain in their homes and communities. John McCain opposed this bill.

Obama co-sponsored bills that would expand treatment services to individuals with autism and their families, and another that would eliminate the two-year waiting period for Medicare coverage for persons who become disabled, and another that would expand assistance in higher education to persons with disabilities. McCain had no position on any of these bills.

We should not assume that having a child with a disability will translate to stronger advocacy for the programs that would improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities in our country. We need to examine our candidates’ positions on the issues.

Judith Carta
Overland Park

Hire worker with a disability

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The theme is “America’s People … America’s Talent … America’s Strength” — indeed a powerful slogan

Many individuals with disabilities want to work but seem to have insurmountable barriers in their path. Barriers include lack of transportation and employers’ fear of the unknown. What has been proved time and again is that having people with disabilities in the workplace is valuable to the individual and the business. The benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

So during October, do more than thank your grocery bagger, movie ticket-taker, or fast food worker. Hire a person with a disability.

Along with valuable and possibly untapped skills, you’ll benefit from having a dedicated and reliable employee. More important, you’ll provide someone the opportunity to reach their dream of inclusive employment. You have the power to turn those barriers into opportunities.

Lurena Mead
Overland Park

Don’t judge others in parking lot

I would like to answer the question of who needs special parking (9/17, Letters). I am 75 — told I look younger — a cancer survivor, and I have rods and screws in my back, plus other medical problems.

I can still walk into a store and take my time wandering around, but I can’t rush around in a parking lot, which is dangerous, to say the least. You can’t judge a book by its cover. Didn’t the Lord say not to judge, or you will be judged someday?

Lorraine Hines
Blue Springs