Larry on HR 1350

HR 1350, IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was first introduced on 3/19/03, by 19 sponsors. This bill has become a boilerplate piece of legislation, which serves as a basis for virtually all legislation regarding children with learning disabilities. Throughout the years the bill has undergone many revisions and amendments. These efforts to update and revitalize HR 1350 IDEA, continue to this day, and are already being planned for the future. This "backbone" legislation has incorporated the spirit of  NCLBA,
the No Child Left Behind Act, demanded higher qualifications for special education teachers, insisted on IEP's, Individual Education Plans for special needs students, and supported additional educational research. The bill has not solved all of the special education problems associated with children with learning disabilities. However, this landmark legislation continues to this day to be the most comprehensive on the topic and has stood the test of time.

The policy impact of  HR 1350 has affected every public school in the country. Schools were mandated to change the way they viewed, and taught children with learning disabilities. Many millions of dollars have
already been spent, and many millions more will be spent, as the bill continues to be reworked, and amended further in the years to come.

It is my sincere hope that you will be touched by my story to the point that you are willing to step up and advocate on behalf of legislation to help children with learning disabilities.

Larry With Springfield College President Richard B. Flynn...So What's it Got To Do With Advocacy???

 

Photo courtesy of Springfield College

 The movie "Field of Dreams" asks the question: "So what's it got to do with baseball?" And you might ask the question "What does baseball have to do with advocacy?" The answer is simple, for me, baseball has become a key which has opened many doors. When I was laid off from my job in the textile industry, all I wanted to do was get another job. I had an opportunity, along with other laid-off textile workers, to take advantage of the Trade Adjustment Act (TAA), a government program designed to retrain workers who lost jobs as a result of various government Trade Acts.  One of the retraining options was completing one's education. 

It had been 40 years since I had flunked out of college, but I had recently discovered my learning disabilities, and now there are ways to deal with them. I was not seeking any fame or notoriety, I just needed a job. Even when I started school, all I want to do was "pass," I just wanted a college diploma. My success in school academically was immediate. For the first time in my life I actually enjoyed school. I ended my first semester with all "A"s, and found myself on the Dean's List. I mentioned the irony of the situation; that I was for the first time in my life academically eligible to play sports, but was too old, to my advisor and English literature professor, who offered the quote from Albert Einstein "Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible." 

The next thing I knew I found myself sitting in the baseball coach's office, asking if I could tryout for the team. While making no guarantees, he said that I would be given the same opportunities as any other student. At 58 years old I was working out with kids ranging in age from 18 to 23, and ended up making the Junior Varsity Baseball Team at Springfield College. A deluge of publicity followed these events, including newspaper articles, an ESPN story, radio interviews from Boston to San Francisco to Canada, TV spots on Channel 22 Springfield, Fox 6, Channel 7 Boston, and ABC 40, and an extensive video and story on Boston.com in association with a lavish Boston Globe article. President Flynn came to baseball games to watch me pitch, and when we met, we spent most of our time together talking about baseball. 

When I realized that my story was being used as an inspiration for children in reading centers and dyslexic clinics across the country, and that I had been offered opportunities to tell my story at various speaking engagements, I decided to make the most of it, with the idea of advocating for children with learning disabilities, and letting them know, with myself as an example, that with the understanding of their particular disability, and perseverance, that they too could achieve the "impossible,"as long as they never give up.

Associated Press WWPL Video

Don't Be Afraid To Lead The Way.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Matlack

Margaret Mead said, "Never doubt that a small group of committed individuals can change the world. It is the only thing that ever has." Her words of wisdom, are an invitation to become involved in what you believe in. They are a challenge to us to learn more about the issue of supporting and helping children with learning disabilities, and to turn that knowledge into energy, time, commitment, and advocacy.

It's All About Teamwork.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Matlack

When I stepped onto the mound, in the last inning of the last game of the year, the entire infield came over and joined me. It was one of the most touching moments of my life.  I knew then, that they saw me, not as an old man trying to fulfill a long-lost dream, but as a teammate. I could feel their energy and excitement. I knew that they would work together to do whatever they could to support me. And I knew, that maybe 40 years ago I could've struck out the side, but I knew on that day, that in order for me to pitch a scoreless inning, that I needed my teammates. I knew that I couldn't do it by myself, but I knew that together we could do it as a team.

Larry With Governor Romney

Photo courtesy of Mitt Romney

Then governor of Massachusetts, and now presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, supported me in my run for state representative. He took the time to listen to what I had to say. Nobody agrees with anyone about everything. But, that doesn't mean that people of goodwill can't sit down and discuss the issues. Party politics in this country has become too divisive. Nevertheless, it is important to create and maintain the dialogue. 

During my long career as a voter, and my brief career as a politician, serving as a Selectman in my small town of North Brookfield, and running for State Representative in the 5th Worcester District of Massachusetts, I learned that most people, even most politicians, want people to have jobs that earn a living wage, have equal opportunities in all facets of life, have healthcare, and have food on the table for their families. 

In my view, party affiliation, and its associated pressure has become a huge problem. Additionally, Senate and House Representatives, have turned their positions into lifelong jobs. I would advocate for reasonable term limits, which I believe would  go along way toward eliminating much of the corruption, and complacency that we presently see in government. Good advocacy in government demands that we reach out and get to know the people representing us.

Sometimes It's Okay To Snarl

Photo courtesy of Ryan Matlack

The snarl on my face does not mean that I am mad, it means that I am a fierce competitor and that I love baseball. This feeling is easily transferred to issues that we care about, and that are important to us. We are allowed to feel mad, or upset, or outraged that the services that we would like to see made available to children with learning disabilities are inadequate or insufficient to meet the needs of this population. Our personal outrage can be a source of energy and power in the advocacy battle.

ABC 40 Video