Often trapped in a day-to-day world--where a simple thing like hope is difficult to keep hold of--parents of children with special needs tend to feel they do not have the time to become educated voters. And yet, they have more incentive to vote responsibly than they might imagine. It's easy to be too overwhelmed, too tired, or too worried about the present to concern oneself with an up-coming election, or the future of this potentially great nation; yet, as we struggle to give our children the best possible opportunity to succeed to the best of their abilities, voting to ensure that they continue to have the opportunity to express their abilities is very important.

I am many things to many people. However, I am a mother first and foremost. My children happen to have special needs: I have two children diagnosed on the Autistic spectrum and a third child who is in diagnostic limbo. I am often overwhelmed by my responsibilities. I am tired. I worry about how I'm going to get my two youngest children to speak. I worry about how I'm going to get my oldest child to participate more fully in his education. I worry about my children being accepted by their peers and within our community. And I worry about a great many more things besides. I have a lot to do, which is why I am here.

Now, this doesn't seem to make sense. Many people question why I devote my time to Vote Out Incumbents for Democracy when I have "better things to do." And yet, what better thing could I have to do than to work to ensure my children have a future?

As the parent of children with special needs I find myself fighting for my children far too often. I have to fight to get the medical services they need covered by Medicaid. I have to fight for non-segregated educational opportunities for my children. I have to fight for their place within our community as children, and their future place within our community as adults. These are important battles that improve my children's quality of life by giving them the opportunity to succeed along with their peers. And each of these battles are directly affected by our legislators.

Medicaid is funded by the federal government and the various states of our union; Medicaid funding is being cut at

the same time Congress is on a spending spree. Special education programming is determined by the federal government and by the various states of our union; the quality of our special education programs are not keeping up with the research conducted to improve them, just like education as a whole within this nation. Accessibility within the community, even the very right to go within the community which so many Americans take for granted, is determined in part by both federal and state legislation.

In all of these instances, I would have found fighting for my children to be much easier if we were represented by people who were concerned with their constituents, not the special interests who foot the bill for their campaigns. If Medicaid coverage was determined by what worked, instead of lobbying, then getting effective and relatively cheap services covered wouldn't be an issue. If fiscal responsibility was a priority, then our schools would never be forced between deciding between materials that could help all their students (like athletic equipment or text books) and materials that would only help some of their students (like weighted vests or a wheel-chair ramp), because they would have sufficient funding to do their jobs. And if we were represented by legislators who actually paid attention to their constituents, then perhaps it would not be necessary for parents of individuals with special needs to advocate for their children to be allowed to make choices upon reaching adulthood, instead of being tucked into whatever program the lobbyists had designed for them.

So much of American life as a whole, irregardless of ones abilities, could be improved by having legislators who were responsible stewards, instead of bought-and-paid-for political cronies. This is true for individuals with special needs and their families as well. It's hard enough to care for individuals with special needs; we shouldn't have to fight for common-sense measures to give them the opportunity to succeed as well. So please take a few moments to educate yourself about your voting options. It's hard work, I know, but the benefits to everyone, including individuals with special needs, are irreplaceable. Vote responsibly: vote out irresponsible incumbents!