A request & invitation to all families, esp. in Ft. Worth (Tx)!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I never in my wildest dreams thought that with an email sent

yesterday at 4pm that by 2pm today all this would have come about.

I'm afraid I will faint if I try to stand up and make a statement. I

don't have any experience, in fact, I didn't even know what " whereas "

statements or bullet points were! I don't even know what I am going

to wear!

Yet, instinctively, when Kristi asked if I could come downtown if

they pulled it together, I told her I would. Simply because if that

is what it takes to raise awareness and get some changes made in this

town then so be it. Only after getting the Autsim information to

Arden did I finally ask Kristi what " coming downtown " would entail.

From the very beginning, when out of desperation & frustration of

knowing that I had done a terrible job of advocating & obtaining

services for my daughter at school and not being able to find someone

who could help me, I sent an email out, first, to my neighborhood

listserv and then to these mysterious groups I found. Not really

believing that anyone would respond. Soon after I started hearing

peoples stories something changed. It wasn't just about us anymore it

became about all families who have a loved one(s) with special needs

(not just autsim); the struggles and challenges we face spiritually,

emotionally and financially.

And now, first, THE REQUEST!

Kristi's suggestion on what I might say when the mayor asks is below.

I think it needs a little fine-tuning, though. I take this very

seriously so I want to make sure that whatever comments I make are

sensitive and accurate. To begin with, I feel this sentence needs to

be changed - " ...the joys and challenges so many families face in

dealing with autistic or handicapped children. " To perhaps, " ....so

many families face who have a child or children with special needs,

wether its autism, sensory processing disorder, ADD, and the list

goes on. What do you think? Also, for those families in Ft. Worth, do

you feel this sentence accurately portrays the current situation in

Ft. Worth - " ...there is no resource or support group for families

like mine to gain support or knowledge from one another. " ? What do

you think? Do you have any suggestions?

And finally THE INVITATION!

I would like to invite all the families out there to join me on

Tuesday. This is about you! Your child! Your lives and their futures!

And when it is time for the mayor to ask if I have anything to say I

would like to ask you to join me on the stage or to stand up with me.

I want to replace statistics with real people. Not only do I want to

make a statement, I want to leave an impression!

I know Ft. Worth is a long way to drive for all of you who live in

Plano, Frisco, Grapevine, etc. and some can't make it on Tuesday so I

ask you to send an email to Burns or Kristi Wiseman (or call)

and give a voice to this thing called autism/special needs. I think

Burns should be commended for proposing the Families for

Children with Autsim Support Group and for offering to assist with

forming this group. Their numbers/emails are:

.Burns@.../

kristi.wiseman@.../

Here's Kristi's eamil:

will be here, next Tuesday, April 29th to receive the

proclamation at 10:00 AM in the Council Chambers. Arden , I know this

was incredibly short notice but thank you for your efforts. We very

much appreciate you.

, after the presentation, it is customary for the Mayor to ask

if you would like to say anything. You might want to and you might

not but here's a suggestion:

" Thank you so much Mayor and members of the City Council. This

proclamation came about because I wrote to me Council member,

Burns regarding April, Autism Awareness Month. His office responded

with a wonderful suggestion to do this proclamation in order to gain

an even greater awareness of the joys and challenges so many families

face in dealing with autistic or handicapped children. At present,

there is no resource or support group for families like mine to gain

support or knowledge from one another. I'd like to take this

opportunity to formulate a support group of Families for Children

with Autism in Fort Worth . has offered his office to assist

with that endeavor. If would like to participate in such a support

group you may call Burn's Office at or email him at

. Burns@.... Kristi will get your name and contact

info to me. There are many joys and struggles for families such as

ours and together we can share and gain knowledge and encouragement

from one another.

Thank you so much. "

That's just a suggestion, you can just say thank you if you prefer or

some version of what I wrote above. I recognize that you might not

even want to start a support group but I just thought; what an

opportunity!

Kristi Wiseman

Council Aide to Burns

1000 Throckmorton St

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

kristi.wiseman@...

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From: Dufilho, Arden

Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 1:14 PM

To: Wiseman, Kristi

Subject: RE: Information to pass on to

Kristi,

I need to know who will receive this as soon as possible so that I

can get the information on the agenda.

Thanks!

Arden