Higgins, Pierog step up for special needs

I would recommend that all future and current politicians take a class on special needs awareness. Maybe they would finally realize the number of special needs families in the Northwest suburbs, that have children that could use their best effort and ideas on how to help them.

We need plans on how to improve and less excuses on why we are near the bottom of the nation, in providing special education and services to an area that is home to the biggest K-8 Special Olympics program in the nation.

I've held a forum for politicians to meet parents of special needs children and adults. Of the politicians that appeared at the forum, two politicians have stepped up in their districts, to offer leadership in providing plans, that recognize the current condition of our state budget and offer ways to improve the services for families and children, without adding a dime to our budget.

They are Republican state representative candidate Ryan Higgins of the 56th District and Democratic state senate candidate Corinne Pierog of the 28th District. Ryan Higgins has shown me that he has a true interest, not only in learning about special needs issues, but how to help families like mine, who have special needs children that go to school with other children in Schaumburg.

Corinne Pierog, with her past experience in dealing with special needs issues, could provide an example to other politicians, of someone who understands and would know how to help a special needs population that has long been forgotten in this area.

Many special needs families can help themselves, if only provided the resources to help their children by the state, that by politician inaction over many years has buried that help in false promises and avoidance.

Most politicians during this election year have been more interested in pushing slogans, sending out attack ads trying to damage the others reputation for votes, without providing real ideas on how to help families.

Mike Baker

Schaumburg