As a parent of three boys, one with Asperger’s (a form of autism) and one with Down syndrome, I can relate to the frustration that Karen McCarron felt. It is a painful thing to see your child struggle. It is also painful to know that these issues cannot be cured, only coped with. That said, what did McCarron think parenting was about? That it was only worthwhile if the children were perfect? Is she perfect? I watch my sons cope day in and day out with being different and it hurts–but we are all stronger because of it. My youngest son (who is gifted, but without any “issues”) will grow up to be an empathetic person. My other sons will grow up to know that they are loved not in spite of their abilities/disabilities but, in part, because of them, for without them, they wouldn’t be the same children. My husband and I have a stronger marriage because of the challenges we have endured.
Do special-education programs need more funding? Absolutely. Do more services need to be put into place to help families like the McCarrons? Of course.
But it sounds to me like Karen McCarron had many services available to her and much support from family. The issue is not the level of services she received. The issue is that Karen McCarron couldn’t cope with having a child who needed those services. That is the tragedy.
