My Voice: Published

Editorial to be published in the Tennessean (http://www.tennessean.com) next week:

I stand strongly against the rezoning of Franklin Special School District. Our son, Lucas Breeding, age 5, has a diagnosis of Williams syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, autism spectrum disorder and apraxia of speech.

He attends the Communication and Social Instruction (CSI) class at Poplar Grove Elementary. The community needs to be aware of this program that exists in our area. For some reason, it seems to be a secret to many. This is something we should celebrate as a part of our community.

The communication and social instruction classroom, offered from pre-k until the 8th grade, has dramatically and positively changed Lucas's and our family's life. One of the many benefits to this program is that Poplar Grove elementary offers a balanced calendar. Children with intellectual disabilities can experience severe regression during long breaks which is what the traditional calendar offers. It can take months to recoup the skills lost during a traditional summer break.

If this rezoning is about social agenda, I have one I'd like to share with you. Part of my personal story is about social justice for those with disabilities. The unfortunate thing is these are members of our community who often aren’t able to advocate for themselves, in fact, some cannot communicate at all.

When Lucas started the Poplar Grove CSI class, he was three years old. He could not walk, talk, feed himself, play appropriately, or make eye contact. He tantrumed and would not follow directions. It was debilitating to us as a family.

Today, Lucas is doing many of these things. This progress has been amazing to watch. We are a part of a study at the University of Louisville for children with Williams syndrome. Each year Lucas has two days of intensive testing followed by a meeting with Dr. Carolyn Mervis, cognitive expert in Williams syndrome and director of the study. When she met Lucas, age of two, she considered him to be on the severe end of Williams syndrome. Devastating to hear. A month ago, when we went for testing, Dr. Mervis emphatically stated that he was no longer in the severe range and has progressed to mild.

We believe much of this progress is because of his team at the Poplar Grove CSI preschool class, a balanced calendar and the commitment from the teachers, therapists and administration. A move from “severe” to “mild” is tremendous.

Poplar Grove has spent 11 years working on their program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as well as other disabilities. ASD is very specific disorder, hindering communication and social interaction and is growing at an alarming rate. It calls for the specialized instruction and the balanced calendar that PGS provides.

What is the plan for the children that don't have a voice? Are we going to trade one minority for the other in the name of equality?