HB 984 Sets Georgia back 40 years

Senator Don Thomas,

It is with deep heartfelt emotion, as a mother of a 12 year-old girl with a cerebral palsy, that I asked that HB 984 be stopped. It will take Georgia back 40 years. No one can take care of my child like me. Families need to stay together. When families need help, they should not have to sacrifice their children. As long as I have breath, my daughter will live at home. By any means necessary. Ask yourself the question, what would you want if it were you or your child? HB984 says that a child who has an extensive stay in the hospital and needs further care, would have to go to a "Transitional Facility" aka Institution, instead of home with their families. For some children and families, going home would be a thing of the past.

In 1998, I found out how important it is for people with developmental disability, to live in their own homes and in their own community. A real home with a yard and with neighbors who do not have disabilities. I met David, his girlfriend Mary, both of them lived in Brook Run Institution, for over 25 years. They lived with cerebral palsy with severe physical impairments. The three of us were born the same year, 1964. We met at Partner's in Policymaking, an advocacy training for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members. David and I became fast friends. Leonard who had Osteo Imperfecta and Renee who has Epilepsy were also in our class and they also lived in Brook Run. Leonard called it a life sentence 25 years. If you don't know, Brook Run was an institution and it closed in 1997.

In 1997, David and Mary Ellen (age 33), Leonard (age 25) and Renee lived in their own homes for first time since they were small children. Having their own home and transportation which gave them freedom and independence. David would call me on the phone almost every day and Mary Ellen did not appreciate that. One time in our Partner's class, David hollered for me to come sit by him," Sonja Over Here." Well, his girl Mary Ellen (who is "nonverbal"), shrilled with every part of her being, a sound of hell no!! As a woman myself, I completely understood and told David I would see him at break time. He lived 3 years in his own home and at the tender age of 36, his kidneys failed and he died.

Leonard enjoyed 10 years, he accomplished so much with his life. He was a father, an activist, he and Renee would go to Washington, DC and participated in demonstrations for Supported Living, Supported Employment, and Inclusion for children in schools. He was a DJ and had the "baddest" system. The UGA did a documentary on his life. It was at a demonstration in Washington, DC when Leonard caught pneumonia and never made it back to Atlanta. This month, he's been gone 3 years. To only live a day in their shoes or Leonard's socks...whew, my people I miss them. They deserved more than they got.

Passing HB984 has taken away from the work that the people like Leonard and David who fought and died for freedom. Please do not let the next generation have to suffer through what has already been proven to be wrong for people. This is the civil rights movement of the millennium. We want to go forwards not backwards. Please stop HB 984

Thank you for your time and support, I am confident that the people of Georgia, especially our children can count on your support.