The second day of hearings in the Human Rights complaints against the Disability Support Program completed the testimony of the parents with Carolyn Bateman and Margaret Murphy.
Carolyn Bateman at Human Rights hearing
Both parents described in some detail their lives and challenges living with autistic children.
After two days, one can only ask – how could the government abuse these children and parents so grossly? What kind of public shame will it take to make Pat Binns realize this is wrong?
The thread that runs through both days of testimony is the love and devotion of these parents under trying circumstances. It is almost unbelievable how they have surrendered their lives to look after their children who have become disabled with autism.
There was a moment in the afternoon when Margaret Murphy was relating what happened when she and her husband got caught in a snow storm on the causeway. When then got home, her teenage daughter made her promise to pick out another set of parents because she could not look after her autistic brother on her own. Her daughter wanted to find the couple and ask them over to supper to talk about it. Margaret did as her daughter asked and found a couple. She added “Who ever asks their parents to find a replacement in case they die?”
Margaret and her family have been abused so badly by the Province and the DSP, one wonders how they survived. At one point, the Province cut off the expensive care Michael, their son, needed. The were forced to sell their home. To care for Michael, Margaret took all the leave she could and then took unpaid leave. They went to live in subsidized housing that was not wheelchair accessible for Michael who is constantly in his chair. The were accepted by Habitat for Humanity for a wheelchair accessible home and then the Province decides maybe Michael can get his care again. So Margaret goes back to work but they have to move from the low-rental because she is working. This is a Kafkaesque tale brought on by an insensitive government.
None of the facts were refuted by the government in their cross-examination.
All of these families brought their plight to the Premier’s attention, personally or in writing. How hard and miserable do you have to be on the inside to ignore the pleas of the weak and the sick?
Jesus said at Mark 10:14
Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.
Leave a Reply