[nfbwatlk] Here It Is ... no Surprise

[debby phillips]

Hi Mike, I know they have.  I guess it sucks to be sold out by a 
legislator who isn't or wasn't thinking beyond her nose.  It was 
a place that brought me freedom, friendships, fun and yes, love.  
We had a pretty wonderful staff when I was there--with a few 
exceptions.  For me as a little kid, that would have been the 
"least restrictive environment".  In my memory I will walk its 
halls, smell the particular smell of each building, remember 
lessons learned, and hear the laughter and yes, sometimes tears 
of my friends.  Okay, sorry for being soppy and sentimental.  
Gosh.

I have a feeling that the state of OREGON is going regret this 
decision someday.  If the word lasts long enough (and sometimes 
I'm not sure about that) there will be some epidemic or something 
and there will be tons of blind kids again.  Public schools are 
getting worse and worse, and if I were the parent of a blind 
child I'm not sure I'd want my kids mainstreamed, or at least not 
totally.  Some of my friends, upon leaving the School for the 
Blind in Oregon went through hell during public school.  I guess 
I was one of the blessed ones.  I had just become a Christian and 
got involved in church, etc.  That helped so much!  Not tooting 
my own horn or anything cuz what happened thirty something years 
ago is only good for the family pics, but I was Prom Queen.  I 
had friends who were "hoods" friends who were Christians, a few 
that probably were doing drugs.  I didn't care, I just kind of 
liked everybody, smiled a lot and talked a lot, as well as 
listened a lot.  I was no Sweet Pea.  Lol.  Haven't changed those 
aspects of my life over the years.  Lol.  Oh, I'm gettin rambly 
again.  Sorry.    Debby