Your Stories
The Forgotten "Bobby's" And Their Siblings
In 2006 Bill 256 stripped the education from all the children who could not be in a school setting.Bobby my 16 year old son, who's medical condition has nearly taken his life over a dozen times, was included in that group. Bobby was under the McKay scholarships/ his sisters were on the CTC Scholarships.
These scholarships allowed the private schools to accommodate for the needs of not only the McKay child but for the siblings who had to endure the travel of their sibling due to medical specialists.
When Bill 256 was placed into action in 2006 it stripped the accommodations away from not only the disabled/special needs child but from their siblings. Due to the school setting law, the children had to go to a school whether private /public it didn't matter. The medical needs would leave them missing enough schooling days to fail them or they would miss so much school it stressed the kids out trying to catch up.
The children and Families were left struggling to find schools that did not exist for these special matters or they just lost their scholarship. Or even worse like my husband, he had to physically be in the school with my son to keep him safe because the private/public would not take the liability of my sons death if something would have had occurred.
Bobby again endured another surgery on August 6 2007. Two Rods were placed in his spine and we are looking at another after the one which has just occurred for his hip.
I know it sounds like these kids wont have the ability but there education keeps them alive and flowing and revives who they are. No schedule no stability equals no life.
You see, Legislators do not live a 24 hour 7 day a week challenge with a disabled or challenged child. I want to be angry but I had to ask myself, How can they understand something they have never experienced? I was so angry at first but now we need your help to help us help them understand. Remember:
The most vulnerable children had been ignored and forgotten in the State of Florida. But do they really understand what they DID?
I Eldalee Cook, Bobby's, Jo and Cheire's Mom, to this day continue working with my Local Government. I refuse to believe that our State could be so cold as to leave these children out on purpose.
With the support of District 5 - Commissioner Edward J. Dixon , Growth Management Director Bill McCord, Planning Committee Mr. Hollohan commissioner, House Representative Marti Coley, Senator Wise and Senator Lawson, we will find a way to fix this problem . Please help us spread the word of the forgotten kids (cancer stricken , skin disorders, heart conditions, cerebral palsy), and all life threatening situations, that there ability to learn has not hindered. These children only need the extra time to learn, but have the brain to learn and have all the time in the world to do so. A documentary is presently being put together to show congress what families like ours go through. Rose Lee Archer from the Rose Lee Archer Show http://www.roseleearchershow.com