Letter to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Monday, December 22, 2008

Support people with disabilities

We have decided that it is not humane, nor appropriate to simply warehouse people with developmental disabilities in institutions. We can be proud that Indiana is the largest state that has closed all of its publicly funded institutions. Through emphasizing people's abilities instead of defining by their disabilities, we have discovered that people with disabilities have valuable roles in society as co-workers, valued employees, artists, neighbors, and taxpayers.

Now we need to be sure that supports remain available to promote the ongoing contributions of those with developmental disabilities. We are entering a budget year for the Indiana General Assembly. To be sure, legislators will be looking for places to cut the budget in these difficult times. We need to be vigilant to make sure that legislative appropriations for community-based services for people with developmental disabilities remain in place and allow for growth of these services. We must continue to put the needs of people with developmental disabilities in front of the Indiana General Assembly and to make sure that in these difficult times Indiana's most vulnerable population is not made more vulnerable, but instead that they are supported to take the valuable roles they currently do in our community.

Please support people with disabilities by asking your local and state elected officials to continue to provide for community based services.

Sincerely,

Charles A. Burch

Rhonda C. Burch

Respect is needed

Dear Editor,

The word "respect" has been defined by Webster's Dictionary as, "willingness to show consideration or appreciation." Please take a coupe of minutes to go to YouTube Website (www.youtube.com) and search the words "Respect Arc." There you will find a very brief (one minute, or so) video about respecting people with intellectual disabilities.

From time to time, people who I believe are generally good people, use derogatory terms to describe people with intellectual disabilities. It is not funny. It is hurtful and wrong. And, mostly, it is disrespectful of human life. I believe that most people make these type of comments simply because they are not thinking or they do not know better. It you watch the video, you will know better. People with intellectual disabilities are co-workers, employees, team-mates, friends and neighbors. Please have a willingness to show consideration or appreciation for them as human beings. Please show respect.

Sincerely,

Nancy Hudson

Bloomfield, IN

Linton City Park looks great

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Chris Hardesty, Linton First Christian Church and the inmates from the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility for decorating Linton Humphreys Park. It is obvious a lot of planning and hard work went in this project. The cold weather didn't stop the workers from completing this task and the results are great. I for one think the park looks better than ever before. I am sure young and old alike will enjoy the lights this holiday season. Kudos for a job well done!

Larry Richardson,

Linton, IN

Dear Editor: