Reader comments
Greenhouse a place for the 'aged out'

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Glen Humpherys | 8:46 a.m. Dec. 7, 2008
Where is the Murray Greenhouse located? What hours is it open? The article filed to provide the essentials of where and when. Thanks

Jay | 10:12 a.m. Dec. 7, 2008
Great story! We will help.
At what point.... | 10:45 a.m. Dec. 7, 2008
....do we stop "educating" them? As the aunt of a family with a special needs child, I see that child (at age 21) still being educated.

But, her siblings' education stopped at high school graduation. They don't qualify for grants, and the thought of taking on the costs of college and the necessary loans that will put them in debt for many years, isn't exciting to them. Yet they see programs supporting their sibling, who they love very much.

The mother is happy to send her child to school, because she doesn't have to pay for child care while she works.
Comments continue below
page | 12:42 p.m. Dec. 7, 2008
i agree my kids are out of school at 18 maybe 19 at the most. why does the education system keep kids in the system until their 22. i don't get it that is a lot of money thats going away form regular education.I know they have special needs but they also shouldn't get more than regular education.
Parent Advocate | 12:55 p.m. Dec. 7, 2008
Page, most kids are ready to go out into the world (to college, to get full-time jobs) when they are 18 or 19. Students with special needs are not. Some are not even at age 22. Regardless it is more cost effective to continue educating them in transition and job training programs to give them job skills through the school system than it is to send them off as society used to --- to institutions --- before the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was authorized, making it the law.
What exactly do you mean, Aunt? | 1:28 p.m. Dec. 7, 2008
"At what point do we stop educating them?" (10:45 a.m.) The school systems stops when the child turns 22. I can't discern what you mean by your comment...are you begrudging your niece's education and learning opportunities? Does she not need all the help she can get? Her siblings may not get as much help, but do they live with the same kind of diminished physical and/or mental capacities as their sister? Do you begrudge your sister the break school gives her by taking care of her child during the school year? Where are you in the picture, are you there offering assistance? You can never truly know what it's like to parent a child with special needs (24-7 for a LIFETIME) until you have lived it. Speaking from ongoing personal experience, it�s not easy in any way, shape, or form. It is taxing mentally, physically, and emotionally. My heroes are disability pioneers who made education even possible for students with special needs, and the special educators helping my child succeed, who help me as a parent find solutions to educational issues. It�s a good thing, too: many special students emerge from the school system as employable, tax-paying citizens.
disillusioned | 11:34 p.m. Dec. 7, 2008
I'm glad the parents created such a program--but I do hope that we can move beyond people with disabilities only working with others with disabilities--and in one of the "4 F's"--flowers, filth, filing, and food".

And to all those questioning students with disabilities receiving public education until the age of 22--think of it this way: would you force a full term baby to stay in a NICU when they do not need it? Those without disabilities, as much as they face challenges, have 13 years of free public education--and should be able to survive and thrive (if they CHOOSE to do so) after that many years. Those with disabilities need more time to learn--just as a premie baby needs more time in the "nursery" to develop and grow. Would you pull such a baby out of the NICU because of your stubbornness and pride--and greed? In reality, no to very little money is taken from general education student's educations to fund special education--and in reality...what we should be supporting is for ALL of the children to learn TOGETHER! Hopefully then our children will learn that we all have worth, rather than be prejudiced like you!

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John Fred Wright, left, buys a garden stone from Monica McQueen during an open house at the Murray Greenhouse — which offers help for adults with special needs — in Murray Saturday. The stones are engraved by participants at the greenhouse center and sold to raise money for the foundation.

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