I am the proud Mother of Corinth, affectionately called Dr. Du, who is a happy and lovable four-year-old with a diagnosis of Autism, Sensory overload, Dysphagia, Epilepsy, and multiple others. His nonverbal communication has led him to converse with others using American Sign Language (ASL) and Picture Exchange Communication (PECS). Corinth also attends Speech and Occupational Therapy at Moreau Pediatric twice per week and ABA therapy with Autism Spectrum Therapies five to six days per week.
Due to Corinth’s exceptionalities, he qualified for Special Education services including Speech and Occupational Therapy. Corinth’s exceptionalities and transitioning from Early Steps allowed him the opportunity to start school at the age of three. However, nothing in this world prepared me for Corinth being neglected and abused at the hands of the teacher and staff of the school. In my efforts of fighting for Corinth’s civil rights, I learned about Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans employee Nicole Desroche. She and I spoke multiple times in regards to Corinth’s situation. Nicole helped me in more ways imaginable including providing a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on.
Thanks to Nicole and Families Helping Families, I have some tools to aid in our fight for justice and equality. Robert Kennedy said, “each time a person stands for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, they send a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centuries of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” Nicole and Families Helping Families are the tiny ripples of hope. I encourage each of you to engage and form a relationship with them because together we can make a difference.
