MARCH

She sits in her chair at AHRC Suffolk facility and spends her time with her peers, staring into space, wishing to express herself, sometimes wanting to be included and can’t because she is in prison. Her prison is a Hell on Earth, a place that only certain people go and spend the rest of their lives in. What is her crime? Is it murder, did she main someone, or cause wanton damage to limb of property? Maybe she conspired to some inside trading, or was involved in racketeering? No, she committed no crime, conspired not, and yet she pays this terrible price for a lifetime, her shame, being born with Developmental Disabilities. She is my daughter Ellen.

CEO, Mr. Leonardi

Don't get me wrong, she is well cared for, the staff, a wonderful staff of caring and loving people do everything they can to engage her, a CEO of her agency that works miracles and a board of directors who are responsible and diligent in all they do.

As we drive home from her residence every other Sunday for dinner, she sits in the back seat and quietly looks out the car window. She can doze off if you allow her to, so I try to engage her. I sing out loud, and together we have a great time, her laughing and my warbling make for an exciting trip of 25 minutes. When I am done singing, she will at times clap and giggle and I in turn will be inspired to sing some more, this makes her happy.

My daughter Ellen's agency, her lifeline

There have been many years of physical therapy, many years of speech therapy, and many years of trying medications that help her to survive. I hear myself complain about taking a medication and then think about my beautiful daughter and I realize I have to shut up and stop complaining.

Developmental Disabilities affects many victims by its being. There is the person: who suffers the crippling pain, mental frustration and daily disappointments, and there are the siblings who tend to bring on self guilt because they feel they weren’t born with it, then there are the parents, the ones who mourn every day of their child’s life. Every allowance, every assist, every patient approach to the life of the developmentally Disabled person brings back time and time again the realization that their child is not normal, their child has an uncertain future, that there are no guarantees in life.

But this terrible scourge on mankind affects just about every family in some form, some way and for sure, somehow. If you think that this is somehow not going to affect you, think again. If the Federal and State governments don’t realize that money is needed to treat, educate and habilitate, it will have an impact on everything we do in life. Fortunately the government tries its best, putting in necessary safeguards and funding where they can. But there is more that has to be done.

The umbrella New York statewide organization

Public awareness is needed desperately in regards to Developmental Disabilities: business can hire some of these wonderful workers who are trained to do jobs that require very little skill. These are quality workers, people who take pride in their ability to have a job, who work hard and don’t miss a day. Companies that hire these kinds of workers gain not only the respect of the families involved, and the governmental recognitions but most importantly, in the eyes of God will be rewarded many times over. They will give meaning to life, someone who has no chance in life, suddenly does! How beautiful is that?

March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. No, I’m not asking you for any money, instead I am asking you to see a little more than you usually do and take a moment and just become aware. As you see someone with Developmental Disabilities, give them a smile, maybe assistance if they are struggling, and please, don’t stare at them, they feel bad enough.