MOAFAA

Missouri Advocates for Families Affected by Autism

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http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/08/column-kids-with-autism-deserve-better-.html

faceofautism: Lee's Summut, MO, United States; I am the mother of three beautiful children. Two of them have graduated from high school. One of those is in college taking remedial courses because she didn't receive the free and appropriate education that she was entitled to. I am now paying college tuition for that education. My third child is autistic and was forced to drop out of school. He was receiving no services for his autism and was no longer progressing in his classes. He was being destroyed emotionally, psychologically, and mentally. He was forced to take medication to just attend school and that affected his liver. He is 17 years old. He has a nonverbal IQ of 123 and the interpersonal skills of a one year old. My taxes have paid for an $8.6 million administration center, $12 million aquatic center, $250,000 for band uniforms,and a $15 million elementary school with empty classrooms. They have not paid for my children's education. My district boasts that they spend the least amount per student of any other district in the area. But, they will hold up their facilities to those in the much richer county to the west. We also have the second highest tax levy in Jackson County.

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