Helping Children with Special Needs

Issue Position

Sidney and I were blessed with a special needs child, Livingston, who is now 18 years old. Livingston has Fragile X Syndrome, a genetic condition that affects development and learning. We made the decision years ago that we were going to do everything in our power to give Livingston a normal life, and help him to learn and live in mainstream society. He has responded extremely well to these efforts and is currently a senior at Pearl High School, where he is also active in various extracurricular activities. As a matter of fact, Livingston is the only special needs student in the high school choir, and he adores music.

He and his sister Maggie are the greatest joys of our lives. As parents of a special needs child, it is our desire to:

- promote a better understanding of special needs issues.
- find ways to encourage and support families with children who have special needs.
- work to promote and fund research for treating special needs children.
- be an advocate for programs that will ensure that special needs children enjoy a rich and rewarding quality of life.

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