Conference

[Guest guest]

Hi to everyone,

Just finally caught up with my charge mail after coming home from the

conference. I just wanted to say how much we all enjoyed the conference and

meeting up with some old and making some new friends (on and off the list).

I wanted to thank everyone who had a part in making the Conference work,

both professionals and family members of Chargers and those of you that are

both and most especially the adult chargers (they truly show all of us what

is possible) you deserve much credit.

I was saddened to hear about what happened to Patti (I met Bonnie at the

conference and have read a number of her posts online and I am very

impressed with the way Patty was raised). It always saddens me when people

only look at our children's (and in my case grandchildren's) disabilities

and fail to see their many abilities and it is especially sad coming from

individuals who should know them better. I hope all our children are

someday able to adovocate for themselves as well as Patty does. If being

OCD or suffering from anxiety prevented people from attending college, I

would be out of a job. I work at a University.

I also wanted to comment about the " Guide Dog adoption program " A number of

years ago, my daughter-in-law decided to train guide dogs for that very

reason. thought, Diane, who's eyesight is very poor may need the

services of a guide dog at sometime in the future, and she did not like

dogs. I can tell you that many of the dogs who don't make it as guide dogs

are some of the most gentle, even-tempered and lovabel dogs you can imagine.

In the years Jenifer has been training dogs only 2 have actually become

guide dogs so they probably have many good dogs for adoption.

I have a funny story to tell (and I really hope no board member takes

offense). While at the conference my granddaughter Diane was becoming

curious about the sessions we were going to and wanted to go to one with her

mother (she is almost 10). told her she would probably enjoy Camp

or the pool with her Grandfather better, however she insisted on attending

one session with . That night while we were eating dinner, she

noticed a number of people walking around with the Board member t-shirts on,

she started laughing and when her mother asked her what she was laughing at

she said that the word BOARD should be spelled BORED instead. I guess she

was sorry she didn't opt for Camp or the pool.

Grandmother of Emma(11) and Diane(9)

Long Island, NY