D'Mitri recently graduated from high school and his last IEP meeting was self-directed. He explained what he wanted for his future: a real job in the community, his own place to live, to own his own business one day, and to have a wife and three children. Why did some of the people at the IEP meeting tell him he needs to go to a workshop and also try to manipulate him to attend a "transition program for the visually-impaired" that's 100 miles away from our community? My son had a great high school experience with a community-focused teacher and I thought our days of fighting the system were over—wrong!

Now, however, I'm happy to report that after D'Mitri left the high school, he applied for a job at a nearby elementary school, and is now employed at one of his top three choices of jobs. He continues to dream big—focused on a business venture and moving into his own place.

I work hard to encourage other parents to dream big for their children. I work in community employment and see people with disabilities succeed in the community when they have the supports they need. And that's my motto: "Anything is possible with the right supports."

I wanted to say THANK YOU, Kathie. I attended one of your presentations, and you reinforced my belief that I'm not being unrealistic in believing my son can be a valuable member of his community.

Brenda Justi, proud mother of D'Mitri Justi