greetings from new member

[Guest guest]

My name is Ruppmann. I live in Virginia and am the Director of

Governmental Relations for TASH, an advocacy organization which has been in the

forefront of research, advocacy and innovation in the field of significant

disabilities for twenty five years. TASH members believe that all people can

and should be full members of their communities, that all people can be

productive, valued members of their families, schools and work places and that

none of us should be forced to live in congregate facilities, institutions or

nursing homes because we have a disability and require services and supports.

I am also the mother of two sons: , now 35, who was diagnosed in

elementary school with learning disabilities and a seizure disorder. Dan is

doing well. He is married to a wonderful young woman and we have two beautiful

granddaughters. They live in the Philadelphia area.

Our youngest son, Stefan, is thirty years old and is a person with autism. He

has friends who love him, a full time job where he is valued and productive, and

he moved into a two-bedroom condo two months ago. He shares the apartment with

another self-advocate, a young man with DS. They are doing very well as

room-mates and our families get along very well -- a good situation all around!

My passion is public policy. I am an " old " mom who remembers when we did not

have special education requirements and when a large number of our children with

autism and with ds were placed in nursing homes and institutions early in their

lives. I've been there -- and I've and done that! I'm very straightforward in

my style, please bear with me and give me a good " slap " if you think I'm getting

too feisty -- or tell Joan, and she'll straighten me out! :>).

--jamie