Community Forum

Photo of Eric Langhart (right) Dear Carmelita [Garcia-Kayes],

What a joy it is to write to you and exclaim "We Did It!!" Thank you so much for getting involved and ensuring that our case was acted upon. Your perspective and experience showed me that this was going to be an uphill battle, but one that we could win. The insight that you gave me into autism has helped me to understand Eric so much better. This has given me a new relationship with my son and the desire to seek a way in which I too can make a difference through sharing my experiences. Your organization is the line of last defense for those of us who have exhausted all other avenues.

Sincerely,
Kathy Lanehart

Dear Mr. Lowy:

We would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude for all you have done to make it possible for us to again visit our brother, Jack, at Menard Convalescent Center. After you contacted me Tuesday morning informing me that we could visit him, Shelby and I went down to Menard that afternoon. Our reunion was quite wonderful. We were pleasantly surprised to find the staff happy to see us, some even hugging us, expressing how happy they are that we are back in Jack's life. We returned him to the home around 8 pm. On our way back, he begged us to take him to his previous home (Sunny Acres) so he could see his friends. It broke our hearts to have to deny his wishes. Mr. Lowy, if Jack does indeed have the right to make some of his own decisions, we trust the courts will allow him to return to Sunny Acres, the place he was happiest the last 15 years of his nursing home life.

Sincerely,
Betty Jo Roberts & Shelby Beall

Photo of Corky Dawson Four years ago I contacted the Rock Island office of Equip for Equality, seeking legal representation in a due process hearing on behalf of our son. District 205 had subjected CJ to disabilitybased harassment, had refused to follow his IEP, refused repeated requests for accommodations, and had terminated from special education when he was in kindergarten. He struggled for six years without special education before he was again referred and made eligible in sixth grade. He was retained in 8th grade in 1999. At the time of our hearing request, CJ had completed the 8th grade twice.

Attorney Janet Cartwright represented us in preparation for a due process hearing and settlement conference. We subpoenaed approximately 20 Rockford School District staff in preparation for the hearing, but just days prior to the scheduled hearing, Ms. Cartwright assisted us in obtaining a comprehensive settlement. CJ's recent testing shows that his reading level has increased from a third grade level in 2000 to a 11.9 grade level in 12th grade in 2004. CJ graduated from high school in June 2004 and he has a positive attitude about school, a significant change since 2000. He plans to enter Rock Valley Community College this August. We would like to sincerely thank Ms. Cartwright and Equip for Equality for their dedicated help. They were truly committed to help CJ when he had lacked confidence in school and had lost hope of completing high school.

Sincerely,
The Dawson Family

Photo of Blake Weber Former EFE client Blake Weber was the grand marshal of the Fourth of July parade in Mokena. Wearing his track uniform and his gold medals won at the Special Olympics for the past two years, Blake epitomized the parade theme of celebrating the 2004 Olympics.

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