My early involvement with developmental disabilities was as a playmate.  A Downs Syndrome relative of our neighbors used to come to visit and I would join them to play canasta.  She was pretty good at the game and got a big kick out of it so I enjoyed playing with her. I knew she was different, but who cares when you're having fun.

Years later, working in adult literacy, I coached an intellectually disabled man in using computers and the internet.  He was a genius at repairing electronic products like radios and VCRs, but he was limited in his ability to read and learn a lot of the activities of daily living that we take for granted.  He did learn to get on the internet.

In August, 2004, I became the Director of The Arc, Northumberland County . Since then I've learned volumes about these disabilities. In our county there are at least 1,000 people with developmental disabilities.  In Pennsylvania , there are at least 123,000.  In fact, world-wide 1% to 3% of the population is developmentally disabled. There are more than 250 known causes, but only one in fours cases can be attributed to a known cause.

I'm thoroughly enjoying interacting with people with a wide range of abilities and limitations.  The most important thing I've learned is that you can't lump them together.  You can't even say they are all "disabled" because some of them live on their own, work at regular jobs and take care of their own affairs. I suppose you could say the ones living independently don't always do a very good job of being on their own, but then couldn't we say that about a lot of people?  Each person is unique in his/her abilities and handicaps.  That's as true of the developmentally disabled as it is of the rest of the human race.

For example, there's one guy who knows every word in his large Webster's dictionary but doesn't talk or relate to others much at all.  There's another who can hardly talk at all but his non-verbal expressions are so clear that nearly everyone can understand him most of the time. 

The Arc at all levels -- local, state and national -- works to insure that people with developmental disabilities get treated as normally as possible (have everyday lives similar to yours and mine) with only the supports they need to make that happen.  For over 50 years, The Arc has led the movement toward this person-centered planning and support.  I'm delighted to be part of this great movement and to carry out its goals in Northumberland County . Your contributions will be greatly appreciated in supporting this effort.  Please give generously.