"It’s easy to miss the human side of policy, legal compliance, the nitty gritty of efficient government. To get caught up in slogans about fraud or waste. That’s what Musk and Trump are counting on. And yet I see and hear the human side every time my son says “My dad’s name is David.” On @msnbc.com - ThreadSky

lollardfish.bsky.social • 2 days ago

"It’s easy to miss the human side of policy, legal compliance, the nitty gritty of efficient government. To get caught up in slogans about fraud or waste. That’s what Musk and Trump are counting on. And yet I see and hear the human side every time my son says “My dad’s name is David.” On @msnbc.com

Comments

redlotus4.bsky.social•2 days ago

I am right there with you. I have a son who has a lot of support needs & I am a special education administrator. So I am also seeing the effect of all of this on other parents, teachers and others who work in special education, and our kids.

My worry about my son is so much worse these days.

cechurchill.bsky.social•2 days ago

💜💜💜

drobertsimg.bsky.social•2 days ago

Sobbing. Thank you for sharing. I know that can’t be easy.

wompingtoandfro.bsky.social•2 days ago

Thank you for this. It puts to words many things I also feel at this perilous moment. 💔

thekasey.bsky.social•1 day ago

She looks like if Tammy Faye Baker and Tammy Wynette had a baby. But uglier

thekasey.bsky.social•1 day ago

Which is really mean but she doesn’t care about us or our kids and has no experience in education

lovelyoldsoul.bsky.social•1 day ago

Thank you! I am terrified of both of my sons losing their IEP’s.

4dogmom.bsky.social•1 day ago

If he has his way, people with disabilities will be the 1st to be sacrificed. Exactly how it worked in Nazi Germany. I'm so sorry for you and your family. Stay strong!

karenh42.bsky.social•2 days ago

Thank you for your eloquence, as always, and for all you do to educate and advocate.

dustbag44.bsky.social•2 days ago

Thanks for writing this David it expresses so much of what our family is also feeling right now.

haddixdl.bsky.social•2 days ago

If Republicans are so hell bent on destroying the department of education, WHY do we even need this tool? WHY was she even confirmed or considered?
#GOVERNMENTWASTE

faerywings.bsky.social•2 days ago

You always write so beautifully about your son and family. I've enjoyed your posts about fishing and playing music with him since the Other Place. I hate what this regime is doing to his future

alissa914.bsky.social•2 days ago

Is Linda McMahon the reason why the Rock has started doing wrestling again? What's happening?

erin1reads.bsky.social•2 days ago

Yes. All of this. My 11 has Down syndrome and is autistic. My 10 is autistic non-verbal and we just applied for his speech tablet. I long to hear "mom" and "I love you." But more I just long for my kids not to be an afterthought or an offense. And the "R" word needs to be crushed.

frenchbully.bsky.social•2 days ago

You will hear it, have faith. Keep your kiddos in whatever therapy you can.

erin1reads.bsky.social•1 day ago

Thank you. They have amazing teachers, para educators, therapists, and teams. All the love and respect to those people.

maggiethornton.bsky.social•2 days ago

cc: @melodyschreiber.com

estefano1.bsky.social•1 day ago

that is the face of a degenerate with a dead soul. she earned that face and it should be a warning to everyone.

halfasstroknot.bsky.social•1 day ago

Thanks for writing this out, I remember you posting about it. My son has T21 and autism and feel this feeling very much. The day he says my name will be one I will never forgot. This article is a great expression of what I’m feeling and easily shared amongst our family thank so much.

missoularedhead.bsky.social•2 days ago

Oh David. He said your name! I’m crying over here. And raging at what it will take away from your son, and my kids. The hell OCD puts the youngest through without medication and therapy and accommodations is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. The callousness — the eugenic tone — breaks me.

beanlump.bsky.social•1 day ago

I have a kid with severe autism in my class. His family is avid Trump supporters (I did not ask, he indicated as such). Wonder what they’re thinking right now!

eicol.bsky.social•1 day ago

I'm so afraid my son will lose his IEP protections. With accomodations and speech therapy he's absolutely thriving in a mainstream 4th grade class. Without them he would still be barely verbal. His entire future hinges on having support right now. It can't stop even for a couple of years.

lollardfish.bsky.social•1 day ago

I hear you. Right now, IEP support still is run through state dept of education, but I dont know what happens when funding is cut. I wish I did.

eugene-smelyansky.bsky.social•2 days ago

This shit is so evil and heartbreaking.

marquisedusud.bsky.social•2 days ago

Beautiful -- thank you for sharing this story.

mikethemadbiol.bsky.social•2 days ago

📌

foreverblue22.bsky.social•2 days ago

This admin continues to dismiss people who are not what they deem to be perfect. The fact that they have NO Decency is not a surprise to me. 😡that this precious young man and every other person with Downs, Autism and learning disabilities are being dismissed by evil people. The should rot in hell

halfasstroknot.bsky.social•1 day ago

They need to be sent there first.

prospero53.bsky.social•2 days ago

#ProLife MAGAts, right?

texasilvi.bsky.social•2 days ago

1 in 36 kids… 1 in 36 kids have an army of loved ones, neighbors and entire communities who are willing to fight even the uglies fights for them 💪 BRING IT

lollardfish.bsky.social•2 days ago

Hello! If you like this piece, please read about how I put it together here. And please consider subscribing. Freelance op-ed writing does not pay well. My wife is unemployed and times are hard. I could use your help.

raeraenicorrrn.bsky.social•2 days ago

I wouldn't have survived junior high without my 504 plan for my first psychiatric diagnosis. One of the school counselors first helped me realize what was going on with me, a second one let me visit his office often to chat, and the third made my 504 plan. All three helped me to eventually graduate.

raeraenicorrrn.bsky.social•2 days ago

All truth. But it is not new rhetoric; it is just being said out loud now. The ADA and many disability rights were cemented because people literally went to the Capitol and crawled out of their wheelchairs to protest against the system. Ever since, we have been working on the justice side of it. ♿🤯😷

nsousanis.bsky.social•2 days ago

Beautiful piece, David - thank you. Wondering how my rfk/trump supporting sil whose youngest has Down’s will respond to any of this…

dustyk504.bsky.social•1 day ago

The Republicans have been using bumper sticker policies for decades. If it's 5 words & can fit on a bumper sticker, that's what they believe.

merrystarchild.bsky.social•2 days ago

@libertyfairelander.bsky.social

yablonowitz.bsky.social•2 days ago

Thank you. As I think of how grateful and supported my wife and I felt from the IEP process for my sons on the spectrum, the thought of that being taken away makes me so f*ing sad and angry. From an essay I wrote about it:

jamiegump.bsky.social•2 days ago

Thank you for this. We should all be so lucky to have you as an advocate.

golfsobad.bsky.social•2 days ago

I have read all the responses posted thus far. I am in a tender place just now because my son, who has quadriplegia is close (3 months, probably) to being able to end a year-long stint on bedrest.

If I hadn't been able to retire last May, he'd be in a nursing home. He's 49.

Our nation is hurting.

maebeexhausted.bsky.social•2 days ago

I am so sorry Mickey. I am the mom to two children with an ultra rare disease. It can be so discouraging and exhausting with everything that is happening. Sending you some love from my corner of the Internet.

golfsobad.bsky.social•2 days ago

Thanks. We are fortunate to have been graced with a tenacity that refuses to be broken.

lollardfish.bsky.social•2 days ago

thanks for sharing Mickey and best to you and your son. I hope all the supports he needs continue to be there, and I'll keep doing whatever I can to make sure they are.

golfsobad.bsky.social•2 days ago

We need people with empathy, tenacity, ingenuity, and mettle to counteract the self-righteous fools who have no desire to be gracious to others. Thanks for being one of the former.

alicepaul.bsky.social•2 days ago

I’m so touched, having just finished your piece. I teared myself up at your description of your son saying your name- my son is autistic and I know what those moments feel like and the work that goes into them. Thank you for so beautifully articulating what’s at stake for families like ours

wmrine.bsky.social•2 days ago

Great piece, David. And the moment Nico said your name with the help of the therapist and the app broken, even before you wrote, “I had never heard him say my name. I’m tearing up now as I write this.” Thanks for sharing.

karinacoombs.com•2 days ago

Thank you for this piece. As a parent two disabled kids (a young adult and a high schooler), I’m terrified and heartbroken by what’s happening and by what will be lost.

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