Editorials / Opinion

Amy Crawley, of Kirkland, holds son Rowan, 8, when he becomes too rowdy while playing. Rowan has severe autism, requiring almost constant care. The family has been on a waiting list for almost seven years to receive state services. (BETTINA HANSEN / The Seattle Times).

In response to the The Seattle Times’ article “Thousands of families left out of state funding to help with developmental disabilities,” [Local News, Feb. 24] I would like to suggest consideration of expanding the use of our state-established Residential Habilitation Centers, which have the therapies in place plus available residential facilities. They could be utilized to serve families of autistic children and other developmentally disabled persons needing services.

I am the uncle of an autistic girl and have an understanding of the demands that this situation places on parents.

Disabilities are not always obvious Many disabilities are not visible and the disabled do not have to be wheelchair bound to prevent them from working [“Free America’s ‘work beasts’ from disability scammers,” Opinion, April 26. It’s peevish to chastise the disabled Froma Harrop surmises are able to work, refuse minimal-wage jobs and prefer to “scam” the government…

Not everyone takes advantage of the system I was appalled by Froma Harrop’s column [“Free America’s ‘work beasts’ from disability scammers,” Opinion, April 26]. Let us be clear: This was nothing more than a naked attack on the safety net that Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can provide. It’s an old tactic — take a small truth…

Depression is misunderstood Froma Harrop does not understand the challenge of dealing with severe depression [“Free America’s ‘work beasts’ from disability scammers,” Opinion, April 26]. The mental incapacity of depression is real and sometimes leads to suicide. True depression is not merely a “low mood”; it comes with an inability to bounce back to normalcy. Harrop ridicules…

Disabled workers deserve more respect As a Renton attorney who has practiced Social Security Disability law in the Seattle-Tacoma area for 25 years, I was infuriated that The Seattle Times published this erroneous attack on our nation’s social-safety net [“Free America’s ‘work beasts’ from disability scammers,” Opinion, April 26]. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries are workers…

At Seattle Center, plenty of handicapped parking still available The Seattle Times editorial about the Theater Commons ["A better way to honor Donnelly," Opinion, editorial, Sept. 8] does not provide a complete description of the accessible parking changes at Seattle Center. It does not address the expansion to more than four dozen accessible parking spaces in Mercer…

Loss of handicapped parking irrelevant in long run The Seattle Times story regarding the Seattle Center’s apparent disregard for disabled citizens ["Theatergoers protest plan to move disabled parking," NWTuesday, Sept. 1] failed to put the whole situation in perspective. Part of the Seattle Center’s Century 21 Master Plan calls for the creation of new underground parking beneath…

Thanks from the world’s Boo Radleys Editor, The Times: On behalf of my daughter Cami, I would like to thank Eunice Kennedy Shriver for creating the Special Olympics ["Champion for the disabled dies after series of strokes," Times, news, Aug. 12.] When I grew up in the ’60s, people with disabilities were invisible, hidden away and…

Thanks to columnist for sharing universal moment I wept as I read Jerry Large’s moving column about having to place his mother in a care facility ["An aging parent; a sad choice," NWThursday, July 2]. With the news these days dominated by the absolutely tragic, the unfortunate and the downright ridiculous, it was refreshing to spend…

Compassion for vulnerable citizens, please It is shameful and deceitful that the head of The Arc of King County, allegedly representing all developmentally disabled citizens, ignores the plight and special needs of our most profoundly, severely disabled, who require the special, skilled care available only in the full-service, cost-effective state residential schools with highly trained permanent…