I met Cham during my first year at Bethel. We became friends during my second year at Bethel. Her youngest son is on the Autism spectrum, and we worked with the family to include him in as much of the mainstream school as possible. Until it was no longer possible, her son made friends with his classmates, many of whom are still his friends today.
On more than one afternoon, I would run to see her outside the school waiting. A crisis or something brought her back to school, and she was now waiting for the dismissal bell. I often sat with her for a spell and chatted about whatever crossed our minds. It was often education reform as it pertains to people with disabilities. We shared our ideas for wanting to reach into the local communities.
The problems are so big: the lack of specialists to meet the need, the shame associated with having someone in your family with a disability, and the lack of laws granting the right to an education to people with disabilities. They seem bigger than two ladies sitting on a school bench could tackle.
Then, in 2022, the government signed into law that everyone has the right to an education. It is like trying to turn a cruise ship or a tanker; one degree over the course of the journey makes a huge course correction. If you turn too quickly, you can cause an accident.
Maybe if we can multiply our numbers and formulate a good plan, we can be a part of the change happening in this country!