Nov 20 2008
Thursday Thankfulness
I’m feeling particularly thankful today after reading some distressing things…
First, I’m thankful to be married to a Social Worker who has a clear understanding of the DSM-IV, which is the manual of diagnostic criteria for the mental-health field. It’s hard enough to explain what it is, let alone follow all the complicated requirements for any diagnosis.
I am thankful for not only the brief time I spent as a teache, but for the environment I taught in. I worked with incarcerated youth, ages 12-17, and most of them were eitehr functunally illiterate or had learning disabilities. It made the job challenging, but it also taught me how to teach outside the box. As I struggle to advocate for Gus, it really comes in handy being able to understand the different challenges facing the teacher, and it is useful to be able to come up with little tricks to help him and those who are working with him.
Finally, and this is the really important one, I am thankful that I am fortunate enough to have both my children living with me, safe and sound. Niksmom posted about Frankie Macias, who has been institutionalized since 1994 - on a temporary placement. Frankie has suffered horrible abuses, has been denied access to his family, and even though a community-based placement has finally been obtained for him, the Department for Developmental Disabilitiesin New Jersey has refused to release him!
So, please sign the petition asking Governor Corzine to have Franie released so that he might have a chance at healing and living his life.
Have a great night, and please share your gratitude in a comment.
