Hey Beth,

A thought just occurred to me (and that's my allotment for this month
;-), along with the pics of the kids, seeing as they ask you `why do
kids need a job', maybe tell them that that is part of what any good
childhood therapy does, provides kids with a basis for becoming
productive contributing memembers of society later on.  Although you
are concerned with dealing with their needs now as kids, your work is
vital for laying the foundations for being happy employable adults who
are able to give back to society.  Perhaps use the members of this
list (names omitted or fictionalised of course) as an example, there
is such a variety of things everyone does, tell them about the many
different qualifications we've all got, give them examples of the
skills and abilities on this list alone.  Show them what your kids can
become with the right help and enough resources.  Show these people
the future - not the future AB's usually think `cripples' have, but
the real future and potential that all of us embody.  Maybe if you
could find some pictures of adults with disabilities working,
socialising, having families - cause we ALL know that's what is
missing from those poisonious telethons - a real vision of our future.
Show them reality, and the long term effects of the good work that you
do, Beth, maybe that will help - at the very least it
might get them thinking and changing attitudes.  Just a thought. :-)

Rayna