Employing The Handicapped

Special Education

December 7 1983

Dear Miss Casey,

Do you know of any organization in town which helps young people with a disability like my son in job placement?

Richard is 17 and is in the ACES program.

Last summer he did help on a roofing job and loved it. Most importantly, he felt good about himself from knowing he could do something constructive.

Milford's special education does fail children like Richard who are capable of learning, but do need a helping hand in learning a trade.

Richard's mom

Dear Richard's mom,

I have been trying to find some useful answers for this matter for several weeks, now, but I am afraid that my efforts have not exactly been a success. The responses that I have received from my contacts at area resources have been unanimously requesting more specific, and some detailed information. They seek the information before any of them could safely be expected to make suitable recommendations for your son at any organization's programs.

For instance:

Is Richard still in school and attending ACES programs or has he finished? Is the school he is attending or has attended connecting to the ACES system of programs? If so which one? Doesn't ACES have a job placement program incorporated into its system? (As Richard's parent you will be entitled to ask specific questions about his education and training there. You would also be better able to give instant responses to the requests.) Each conversation ended in less than three minutes with all the representatives recommending that I contact the other program and vice versa.

It became increasingly obvious that I need to speak to you personally. However, my luck hasn't been any better in that endeavor. I am assuming that I have been equally as difficult to catch by phone.

Another alternative for obtaining information for Richard's choices of furthering his education and or training after high school is by contacting B.R.S. – The Bureau Of Rehabilitation Services, formerly the State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, located at 414 Chapel St., Suite 301, New Haven.

D.V.R. can provide the information as to what is available for Richard to choose from as well as provide the funding and helping with transportation while attending training and job placement in the end. (This is how I received my art training.)

I shall look forward to hearing from you soon of your decisions and how Richard is doing with it all.