Friday, January 29, 2010

Please keep helping Zakh Price

I’m writing this because it’s important that we not lose steam in the fight for Zakh Price and kids like him across the country. In doing so, I would like to reiterate some of the important issues at stake here.

Zakh is eleven and is being charged as a felon for assault because he struggled against two adults trying to perform a restraint on him that was against his IEP (Individual Education Plan). During the struggle he kicked one of the adults who happened to be the principal. This was not an act of malice or anything close to a felony crime unless you have quite an imagination.

If this conviction succeeds, Zakh will be institutionalized and robbed of his educational future. This may well shape him forever as an adult. Please think about that.

A felon by the way is a dangerous criminal, gangster thugs and drug dealers are good examples of felons. Not only does Zakh have no criminal record, but he’s in the boy scouts as well.

If that isn’t enough to take action and help out even a little, with a postcard or two, consider this:

A successful conviction will create case law that can be used to shape court decisions for generations to come. So, if your children don’t have autism, can you say 100% sure that theirs won’t or won’t have special needs in some way? Is this how you want your child treated when all they need is some help? If we don’t stand against this now and work to make some changes, future generations will suffer greatly.

Don’t lull yourself into thinking that this is only happening in Arkansas either. It’s happening across our country in various schools. Some of these schools have even earned a death record. I’ve blogged on them before. Currently I am collecting information for a special report. Zakh’s case will be part of that report along with any families that I can find with problems anywhere similar.

Here’s what I’m asking you to do. Send a postcard to the prosecutor in Forth Smith, Arkansas and tell him that you can’t believe what they are doing. Write: Help Zakh Price.

Are you a blogger? Please write for all your readers and let them know about Zakh’s plight. It doesn’t matter what kind of blog you are on or what kind of website you have. You are helping kids who may grow up and become part of your blog or website. Consider it an investment in the future. And send those postcards, as many as you can. They don’t cost that much and enough of us can send a heavy handed message. Just be sure to stay respectable, because this is a peaceful protest. Here are those addresses again:

Dan Shue Prosecuter, 901 South B street, Fort Smith, AR 72901

Hon Gov Mike Beebe, State Capitol Room 250, Little Rock, AR 72201

Hon Mayor C. Ray Baker Jr., PO Box 1908, Fort Smith, AR 72902

Dr. Benny Gooden (School district supervisor), 3205 Jenny Lind Rd, Fort Smith, AR 72902

Dr. Deanie Mehl (President of the School Board), 3205 Jenny Lind Rd, Fort Smith, AR 72902

Pam Siebenmorgan (Principal of Beard Elementary), 1600 Cavanaugh Rd, Fort Smith, AR 72908


Has your family had trouble getting stubborn school staff to follow IEP’s or help your child? Send me a message about it. You could be in my report!

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