My wife and I adopted a child with special needs. I admit it freely. I have no qualms about admitting it. We fell in love with a little boy, and when the opportunity came to provide him a forever family, we took it. We make no apologies for doing so.
With that comes a responsibility. It is a responsibility that comes just like it does for any natural born children. What is it? An expectation of love. An expectation that the child’s parents will do everything in their power to ensure that his needs are met. That he can receive the appropriate education guaranteed by law.
As a parent, I signed up for this. I did so willingly and of my own volition, as did my wife. It has been three years since my child was in public school within our community. Not a day goes by when we haven’t wished that he could be educated in our community with his siblings.
Tell me, what parent wouldn’t fight for their child with everything they have? What parent would just roll over and push their child freely away from them into a home without doing everything else possible? Without fighting for that child? Would you?
Our son is in a residential placement. This is the third full placement, not including hospitalizations and medicine changes in his life. Will he ever be in a place in his life where he can live at home, and attend a school with his siblings? I don’t know. I wish I had that answer.
So why do some people feel compelled to take their personal feelings out about this situation on my wife at her workplace? I just don’t understand this. It makes for a hostile work environment that doesn’t need to exist.
Why am I writing about this?
It is a simple thing really.
My bride and I have been married for 20 years. I think I know her just about as well as anyone. To say that this is beginning to affect her health is an understatement.
Our son’s education is protected by national law. I will use every letter of that law to ensure that his right’s are met. That his needs are met.