Increase awareness of developmental disabilities

With May Autism Awareness Month upon us, the name should be changed to Disability Education Month all through the entire state of Illinois.

It should include everyone from the editors and writers of the Daily Herald to every reporter from every news station in Chicago to every state and local politician in Illinois who believes that just about any issue that comes along should be prioritized higher than finally getting the proper funding for kids and adults with developmental disabilities in this state.

That parents do not have the right to feel passionate about wanting some sort of future for their kids and being just a little frustrated by being told every year to be patient with the state for still being 49th in the nation for 14 years straight and counting is not OK.

Having all the non-profits that serve their adult children during the day, spring a huge deduction on their much-less-than-ideal state home-based funding to pay for increases in costs with very little to no notice of communication.

To the point where parents cannot afford to be sick, because they cannot afford help and cannot miss a day of work to support their families.

Instead of lighting buildings up blue, I would rather see these same people take over the role of a parent for a week and deal with a meltdown or work as a direct service professional at an adult day program or group home in the area.

Then tell people how easy the job is or maybe, just maybe, they need a little more help.

Mike Baker

Schaumburg