Advocate faces 150 plus yrs. behind bars....

[Guest guest]

" Autism Advocate Faces 150+ Years in Prison "

Over School District Intimidation Tactics.

By Barry , AutismNews.com

Ray Parenteau is a parent of a child with autism and the co-founder

of AutismAdvocate.net . He has stood up countless times and

advocated for the educational rights of children with autism and

other disabilities in this small central Arizona town of Prescott

for the last several years.

In just the last 90 days he has filed and prevailed in 8 Arizona

Department of Education complaints and one due process complaint

while representing 6 students.

Yesterday he met with Prescott Unified School District's

superintendent Kapp and officials the Department of Justice

from Denver Colorado and came to a resolution agreement concerning

the discrimination of a hearing impaired child with down syndrome.

It was there second time out in a little over a year.

In this case the principle of the junior high school told a students

parents " that it would be too upsetting to the regular students " for

the disabled child to attend here " the family was told. The student

was unable to attend his home school for over one month while the

problem was sorted out.

At 7am this morning Mr. Parenteau he was awakened to a half dozen

plain clothes detectives with guns drawn serving a warrant for his

arrest He was charged with 1 count of fraud and 31 counts of forgery

resulting from a contract between his company and the district from

a due process complaint to educate his son.

" I have done nothing wrong. " This is a clear case of intimidation

between the Prescott Unified School Distinct and myself to prevent

me from helping the kids that need it the most. " states Mr.

Parenteau. I was just trying to hold them (the district)

accountable and give the kids a chance to succeed. "

READ MORE AT: (copy and paste)

(That is if you want to read the biased version - Mike)

http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?

SectionID=1 & SubSectionID=1 & ArticleID=62649 & TM=32274.19

AutismNews.com

PUSDinCRISIS.com

Please send this email to everyone you know. Ray is my advocate for

my two kids with autism. I know it is a smear campaign and he will

be found innocent!

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Now in this case this Advocate/Father is looking at a century and a

half behind bars for coming to a settlement (that means it's

settled..right ? Wrong...) with the district regarding payment for an

inhome program. Who knows how long this father paid for

it out of his own pocket. But because he paid someone half of what

the district gave him AND because he is an Advocate.. he is facing

fraud charge and other charges based on keeping part of what he was

probably already owed, and that 'part' is the key word. We must

send a message to our President Elect, to all of those that wish to go

after Advocates like we are some kind of 'wanted' people on

pictures in the post office. If someone were to break the law and

take some funds that they were owed back to them in an 'unwritten

agreement', would they be charged with anything.. and would they have

even broken the law. Just as an Advocate is not allowed to directly

quote the law based on a circumstance (Although we do), A school

district that admitted they had not given the child

his Civil Right should as well be accountable. This father has done

nothing more then what should have warranted a warning or at the most

a lawsuit asking for the funds back..then he could have countered on

the fact they owe him even more.

Instead state troopers come in with guns in hand and ready to shoot a

Father of a child with Autism who wants to help others.. and instead

of going after him for helping others they are making a media parade

about how he 'helped himself' and omitting the fact that they did not

help the child which led to a due process which led to a settlement -

a far cry from someone committing a crime that would call for even a

day and a half behind bars.. let alone 150 years.. When are we just

going to say " ENOUGH ALREADY !!! " I have already stated this and

will continue to do so.

In this last week we've seen the CNN reports at

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/17/seclusion.rooms/index.html and now

that we see this - Have we heard of any pending charges in that case ?

They want all Advocates to shake in their shoes. I will not.

Instead we shall shake their shoes, vote for the Autism Reform ACT and

let them know.. this isn't a request to further my agenda.. the ACT is

already in the lead by far, but I think we should

" lay the hammer down " on this and let our future President know that

we shall not be intimidated through tactics such as this. I refuse to be.

http://www.change.org/idea/view/accept_and_sign_the_autism_reform_act_of_2009

E. , Sr, The Office of Advocacy for Autistic Children

I appreciate your support in helping children with Autism and other

disabilities.

Another very strong idea that should be looked at by all to help so

many that need this.. Regarding Medicaid Waivers being fully funded .

please look at this and vote accordingly - this will change the future

of many.. the site for the Medicaid Reform is at:

http://www.change.org/idea/view/fully_fund_medicaid_waivers_for_the_developmenta\

lly_disabled

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