ander's progress with Dr. G.

[Guest guest]

Hello to all: I just saw a story on the news the other day about how a boy with

autism diagnosis, attending school in New York(Long Island), was PUNISHED for

bad behavior by being put in a solitary confinement room for several times a

day! The father appeared on the news and he was crying over the situation, which

he said he was never told about! The father will pursue legal action against the

B.O.C.E.S. program responsible for this outrageous cruelty! The news showed a

very gentle looking young boy hugging his father. The boy has nightmares about

his terrible treatment. I am reminded of the story back in the early 1970s done

by Geraldo at Willowbrook Institution in New York. The place was exposed

for it's inhumane treatment of developmentally impaired people and Geraldo

received a news award for his great work. Children like ours need to be treated

with kindness, compassion and dignity. I am thankful that my son is in the hands

of very caring people in school. I am also thankful that I have had the good

fortune to know Dr. Goldberg. My son is not yet normal, but he has come a long

way from the days when he never said a word and had no eye contact. Now he makes

conversation, has eye contact, has a sense of humor, and is very much in the

real world. I can only hope for more progress for him and all the kids in

the near future!

Gayle Vizioli