DAVID’S DAY

I sat in the large conference room, facing me was a podium with a microphone. The topic for the mornings discussion was ‘Board Compliance’ and I was ready to drink it all in. My pad and pen sat there along with the hand out, (I was hoping for take out), and people were starting to file in and occupy the seats.

Behind me sat a young man who was attaching himself to me, (his name was Joe) and in front of me, with his back toward me, sat a well-dressed gentleman of about late forties. He sat still, and I thought nothing of it.

Joe and I got into a conversation and discussed the coming night’s NYSARC, Inc, Awards Banquet. Suddenly the fellow in front of me chirped in that he was receiving an award for self-advocacy. He also related how his godfather was driving from Philadelphia to be with him!

The night of the awards, David Liscomb was called to the podium. People, as people do in large gatherings murmur and mutter, not to be rude, but to finish a conversation. David rose from his place on the dais, and with his cane, was escorted to the podium. A hush overtook the room. Such dignitaries as: the former Governor of NY State, Malcolm Wilson’s daughter, and current President of NYSARC, Kathleen Wilson Conroy, the Commissioner of OMRDD, Diana Jones Ritter, the Executive Director of NYSARC, Mark Brandt and other award winners sat at the dais.

David was a well-spoken and articulate man. He is what we should all strive to do, reach the next goal in life, to better not only ourselves, but also others. David suffers from developmental disabilities. David has recently been elected to the Presidency of the Self Advocacy Association of New York State.

As David spoke: he started to thank everyone for being there, for the award, and then said: “I want to thank my Godfather, who stood by me all these years and supported me,” With that, he sobbed, as did I and everyone else in that room.

It was a special moment. It pointed out to everyone that our work does achieve results sometimes that go beyond our own expectations. My daughter can’t thank me like that; she can’t thank her Mom who deserves it even more.

When I joined AHRC Suffolk, I had a personal agenda: to advocate for my daughter Ellen. Once I got involved, I shed that agenda, and created a new one, an agenda that included every person in my daughter’s agency, which quickly expanded to a global dream.

You know, we have dropped the word ‘retarded’ and ‘retardation’.
It has been become such an ugly word that people use to demean others. It is used in flippancy and meanness. It degrades those that once had that title, innocent beings. People who hurt no one, seek only happiness, and love. People who suffer physical pain, emotional trauma, and defeat every day. People who are drowning in the misery that life handed them. But with help, they fight on; they get off the floor and go another round. Beaten and battered they fight. The good news is in their corner. The supports of the wonderful people who cheer them on, nurse their wounds, and give them a strategy to win the fight. Think about that. These people are heroes in a very strong way. And next time you use the word ‘retard’, what you will be doing is, raising the person you wish to slander to a high level.

Please remember my pals Joan and Anita.

http://www.nysarc.org/
http://www.ahrcsuffolk.org/
http://www.omr.state.ny.us/