My brother is five years old, just a little kid, but he will be starting kindergarten this year.  He will be going to our local elementary school, but he will have his teacher (plus two classroom aides) to help him get through the day in one piece.  Nelson has cerebral palsy and mental delays; he needs care 24 hours a day.

I don't want him to be in Special Needs classes all day.  I want him to have all the same opportunities as the "normal" kids, even though he cannot walk or walk.  Bad enough people tend to treat Nelson like a baby becaue he is small for his age and needs help with just about every aspect of his life.  It really angers me.  He is five years old, not an infant!!  He deserves to hae the same curriculum as kids his age!  I hate it when people dumb him down; there are special ways to help kids like Nelson learn just like anybody else!

I have been going to meetings with my parents to the school board office, discussing the ideas I have had blooming inside my head and so far, mosts people seem to be for it.  Some, though, don't think it is feasible, but I have been doing much in the way of research to back my claims, and I have even brought Nelson to these meetings to show these people that he IS capable of learning, although he has a different way to go about it.  I am trying to convince them that my way is best.  It hasn't been easy, but I am not one to give up.

I am hoping that the program will be implemented at not only Nelson's school, but at all schools in my community.  So many kids with special needs seem to be at a disadvantage because funding is cut or people don't understand their needs.  They tend to look at their disabilities first instead of looking at the entire child, especially when they are as involved like my little brother, Nelson Paul, who was born disabled through no fault of his own.

I know I have a long fight still ahead of me.  I know people will hate me because of what I am trying to do, but hey: my brother deserves as much of a chance to learn just as any other chld!  His disaiblities shouldn't hold him back from experiencing life to the fullest!   It's only fair, and above all, it is the right thing to do!