The attack of autistic child's parents by the Bar Association

[Guest guest]

This was my husbands response to the Editor diected towards the Bar Association. If anyone is as upset as we are please respond. I wanted to submit a response to a story that appeared in the 4/27/06 Plain Dealer, Metro Section. In addition, I wanted to share this letter with Robins of WKYC TV, as she has interviewed my family and my autistic child 2 years ago. I will be attaching this communication to Congressman Dennis Kucinich to encourage him to work towards helping parents of autistic children.To the Editor:As a parent of an autistic child was sickened and enraged to read about the Cleveland Bar Association's recent actions. The Bar has dispatched attorney Harvey to attack the parents of an autistic child by threatening them with a $10,000 fine. The Bar alleges that the parents have engaged in an "unlawful practice of law" because they

could not act as advocate for their son. By definition, an advocate is as follows: – Verb, transitive. To speak, plead or argue in favor of. (Synonym: support.) 1. One that argues for a cause; a supporter or defender; an advocate of civil rights.2. One that pleads in another’s behalf; an intercessor; advocates for abused children and spouses.3. A lawyer. (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition)The Federal Government allows for and encourages parents to act as advocates for their "special needs" children. In fact, the

Federal Government acknowledges that parents of "special needs" children are truly the expert on the child simply because of the knowledge that parents have. There is no test to take to be an advocate, but I challenge Mr. Harvey and the Cleveland Bar association to explain how they would be a better advocate for any autistic child other than a parent. The autistic child is obviously not able to speak on his/her own behalf, so the responsibility must be deferred to a parent.Parents are a child's first teacher, responsible for their welfare, their education and their overall development. They are not motivated by the fees that their advocacy may generate. They have the child's best interests at heart. Mr. Harvey was quoted as saying that "special education laws are so complex that children need experts, not untrained parents, looking out for their rights." If anyone is untrained on the

needs of special education children, it is attorneys who do not have any special needs children. Mr. Harvey, my wife and I combined spend approximately 88 hours a week working with our son. We engage in therapy activities, research on the law, Individualized Education Plan development, and developing mainstream social skills. I know more about what my son needs, how he learns, how he interacts with people, and what he does daily than you could fit in your Blackberry. Good special education services are expensive and often not covered by health insurance. Parents of special needs children often have to fight for special services. Advocacy is necessary. If that means that parents file documents in court to achieve the best interests of their child, so be it. It seems that the parents you are attacking are well ahead of the curve by knowing and understanding what their child needs and are doing what it takes to achieve that. You should be ashamed at calling these people

untrained. You are salty that you missed a fee. If you and the Cleveland Bar Association are so concerned about the rights and needs of special needs children, why do you and other attorneys intervene in a positive manner. You represent poor criminals, but I have never heard of an attorney that will help an autistic child get speech therapy without a retainer. Many parents of "special needs" children talk to each other to discuss advocacy strategies. This is no more criminal that you asking a colleague what type of oral argument would work best in front of a particular judge. Yet, you want to take parents who have acquired specific knowledge and share it with other parents and silence them, all in the name of what is in the best interest of children.Parents of autistic children are already tired from the extra support we must give our special needs children, the lack of health care

coverage for autism related services, the meetings with the schools and all the extras that we have to fight for. We are too tired to fight attorneys too, but we will if we have to. In the meantime, I will be forwarding communication to Congressman Dennis Kucinich requesting his help in helping parents combat roadblocks encountered because of autism. Problems get solved by serious people going after the problem, not a symptom. If you are truly that concerned about providing proper representation for children, you can advocate pro-bono for my son at his upcoming IEP meeting on May 11th. I won't hold my breath waiting for a call. R. BiehlParent of a 5 year old autistic son

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