From the Desk of
Richard J. Robison, Executive Director

February 2006

Story Time - Family Stories as Tools for Change

This year’s Federation Conference was very exciting. Our keynote speaker was a Massachusetts mom who has succeeded in telling her powerful story of parenting a child with autism. Susan Senator has done what most of us have probably said we would like to do. How many times has something happened in your family’s life and you responded with the statement, “Someday I’m going to write a book!” Well, Susan did write a book, and she has graciously agreed to come to the conference and tell part of her story.

Stories - our stories, as parents and family members of children with disabilities are among the most powerful advocacy tools we possess. Each of our stories is unique, but at the same time touches something deeper that connects us as a community. The struggles our children and families face are seemingly insurmountable at times. At other times our stories illustrate the irony and the humor of our lives. From them we discover that we are not alone in facing the challenges of each day and we gain a perspective that empowers us to keep on going.

It was the stories of parents and families of students with disabilities that moved our Congress and our nation to adopt legislation, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), that requires every child in this country receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). The “zero reject” policy of IDEA has been decried and challenged and pushed to its limits, but it holds fast as the premier disability policy of our land. Under this law, no child with a disability can be pushed away, kept out or rejected. That is not to say that the law is being perfectly implemented or that some children aren’t falling through the cracks of our systems. We know all those things are happening and parents must fight at times to assert their rights. The important point is that we have rights and as a result our children with disabilities are able to take their rightful place in our schools and communities.

Susan’s story, my story, your story are the stories that can change our world. When we come together as a community, as we did at our annual conference on March 4th, the world seems to become a different and a better place. I enjoyed seeing you at the conference and hearing your stories.

Dr. Richard J. Robison

became Executive Director of the Federation in April of 1997. Dr. Robison has over 20 years experience with the management of nonprofit volunteer organizations as well as six years experience in state government as a senior policy analyst to the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation. The parent of three children, two of whom have Down syndrome, he is knowledgeable in a broad range of relevant content areas. He was appointed to serve a second 3-year term on the State Advisory Council for special education required under IDEA, is an elected member of the Sudbury, Massachusetts, School Board, serves on the AAUAP Consumer Affairs Council, and in Spring 1997, he was appointed by Secretary of Education Richard Riley to serve on the Goals 2000 “America Goes Back to School” Steering Committee.