Please help

There was an article in the Salt Lake Tribune today about possibly cutting funding that helps Utah's autistic children. You are welcome to read the article: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11495043

I would ask all of you to send an email to your representative asking him/her to not cut the funding. I can't imagine where Braedon and my family would be without services and schools. I've included my letter that I'm sending.

Early intervention is the key to success with a child with autism. I believe this. For all of you that know Braedon and have watched him over the last few years can see a difference. You can see what the help of speech therapists do. You can see what the help of a specialized school does. How can anyone want to take that away? It is beyond my comprehension. Please help.

I am the mother of a wonderful three year-old boy named Braedon. He is my first child. I also have a 15 month old son. I was thrilled to become a mother. As soon as I found out I was expecting, I began to dream of all the things I would do with my child. I dreamed of teaching him to play basketball, helping him with his homework, sending him to college, being there when he accomplishes all he has dreamed of, and watching him grow into a young man with ambition and excellence. I still believe and dream in those things. He just has a tougher road to get there. To achieve his full potential he requires a few extra things. He is autistic. I remember when I first heard those words and the crushing feeling that soon followed. Everything I had in my mind seemed to disappear. I cried and cried and felt my dreams of a "perfect" son were gone.

That was until I met some of the most amazing men and women. I worked with DDI Vantage, an early intervention non-profit group. A speech therapist came to my home a few times a month to work with Braedon. Her name is Sue and I still hold a very special place for her in my heart. She talked to me about the Carmen B. Pingree School and all it could offer my son. I immediately called and placed his name on the waiting list. He was number 148.




I learned very quickly that early intervention is the key to autism. Engaging and working with my son early could change everything. The more I learned about autism, the more I learned that Braedon can have everything in life that I had dreamed about and hoped for as a new mother.

He soon began school in a private preschool that my husband and I have paid for out-of-pocket. It hasn't been easy, but I can't imagine putting a price on the progress of my son. When he turned three he started preschool. There are wonderful teachers there, but they don't JUST specialize in autism.

Two weeks ago, I received a call from the Carmen B. Pingree School. It was so wonderful to hear that Braedon's number had come. We took Braedon up there last Tuesday for an evaluation. Later that afternoon, I received a call saying he was accepted into the school.

While I was there I had to keep myself from bursting into tears. They weren't tears from hearing my son had a developmental delay called autism. I was holding back tears of hope and joy. This school was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. I was blown away by the amount of attention to detail, the love and care that each child receives, and the amount of help.

After reading that funding to schools for the development of children with autism might be cut, my heart broke. Of course I am going to ask you not to do this. In fact, as a mother of a beautiful three year-old boy with autsim, I beg you not to cut funding. Each parent dreams of a better opportunity and chance for their child. These schools are helping to provide this. Not just for the child, but support for the family and the siblings.

Please keep all funding, and even increase it, for schools and programs that support special needs. I don't believe we can afford not to help our children because they are our future.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
Kimberly Dominguez