History of SHAA / Poem from a Parent / List of SHAA Presidents

Here is a poem submitted by the family who received SHAA's 2002 AAC Family Award:

To People Who Work with Children with Special Needs
From a Parent

Be Gentle with Me - I may be grieving (especially at first). I may need time to accept, then hurt over, the loss of the "normal" child I thought I would have.

Be Patient with Me - Remember that I have as many as 4 to 20 professionals telling me what I need to do to help my child. It's often overwhelming.

Respect Me - You are the expert in therapy, medicine, or education. I am the expert on my child.

Listen to Me - I spend hours thinking about ways to make life better for my child. I generally know if something won't work at all. I have a lot of good ideas. I read a lot, too.

Encourage Me - Take the time to tell me what I'm doing right. I never feel like I'm doing enough. Point out even the smallest progress you see, because sometimes small progress is all there is to keep me trying.

Understand Me - Understand that as hard as things get sometimes, I would not trade this precious person and all he adds to my life and family for a normal child. He is special, as all children are special, and I know that, even when I'm struggling.

Remember Me - If I burn out, I can't change my job. No one else will step in and take over for me. I am in this for the long haul, so I need to pace myself.

Thank You - Thank you for choosing to be a part of my child's life. Thank you for your patience and dedication. Thank you for caring.

- Robin Prince Monroe

Presidents of the
Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama

1959 - 1961 1961 - 1963 1963 - 1965 1965 - 1967 1967 - 1968 1968 - 1969 1969 - 1970 1971 - 1973 1973 - 1975 1975 - 1977 1977 - 1979 1979 - 1981 1981 - 1983 1983 - 1985 1985 - 1987 1987 - 1989 1989 - 1991 1991 - 1993 1993 - 1995 1995 - 1997 1997 1998 - 2001 2001 - 2003 2003 - 2007 2007 - 2009 2009 - Present

J. Buckminster Ranney William P. Dorné Thomas G. Giolas Vivian I. Roe Louise M. Ward Robert E. Roach Elizabeth J. Webster David A. Daly Samuel G. Fletcher Gerald L. Culton Mary Virginia M. Moore Loretta G. Brown Richard A. Cornell William E. Weidner Dan E. Phillips Betty Y. Faircloth Denise P. Gibbs William E. Weidner Denise P. Gibbs Melissa M. Mahone Brian B. Shulman Doreen H. Oyadomari Carolyn Baumgartner Pat LaCoste Jennifer Vinson Margaret L. Johnson

Our losses: Pat LaCoste passed away while battling cancer June 13th, 2008.

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