To Geri Glass - (Belated) Happy Mother's Day

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23701539.post-38966000473707218152008-05-16T09:50:00.006-04:002008-05-16T14:43:21.754-04:00To Geri Glass - (Belated) Happy Mother's Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bCmnOFPknBM/SC2X20MMSqI/AAAAAAAAAhk/gXGIK65_Uwk/s1600-h/Glass.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bCmnOFPknBM/SC2X20MMSqI/AAAAAAAAAhk/gXGIK65_Uwk/s320/Glass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200980112661301922" border="0" /></a>In the late May 1996, Geri Glass graduated from <st1:placetype st="on">Park</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">County</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">High School</st1:placetype> in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Billings</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">Montana</st1:state></st1:place>. A mere five days later, <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/05/16/opinion/gazette/50-gazetteopinion.txt">her life changed forever</a>. <o:p></o:p>She was in a tragic car accident that took the life of one passenger and left her a tetraplegic – partial use of her hands and arms, but no use of her legs. <o:p></o:p>She gradually pulled her new life together as a person with a disability. In December 2004, Geri became a mother with the birth of her son Gage, adding another chapter to a seemingly remarkable story of the perseverance of the human spirit. <o:p></o:p>Apparently, the Child and Family Services Division of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services was not impressed. <o:p></o:p>In 2005, the state of <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">Montana</st1:state></st1:place> opened an investigation into whether or not Ms. Glass was capable of caring for her own child. Mind you, they had no complaints; there was no evidence of mistreatment, and she didn’t ask for help. They just didn’t think she could pull it off. <o:p></o:p>Ms. Glass had been a person with a disability for eight years when Gage was born. She was 26 years old at the time. She was old enough to know herself and her abilities, and she decided to become a Mom. <o:p></o:p>She was offended the state would open an investigation of her without, in her mind, just cause. She sued the state, claiming her rights had been violated. And it turns out she was right. <o:p></o:p>The physical challenges that Glass faces will not go away, but the settlement will bring some peace of mind to her and her family. The DPHHS and Glass settled for $300,000. She received $50,000. Another $100,000 was paid into an annuity for her now 3-year-old son, Gage. When the annuity matures in 2030, it will be worth $380,000. The rest of the settlement went to Glass' attorneys.It was an important win for people with disabilities who want to be parents. "What we went through should never happen again to anyone," Glass wrote in the press release announcing the settlement. "We've come a long way, Gage and I, to be home free." She said that two things mattered most in guiding her decision to settle - her son and other parents with disabilities. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>I would like to take this opportunity to wish Geri Glass a belated Happy Mother’s Day. CoralandOpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351985847303007612noreply@blogger.com