"Autism Advocate Faces 150+ Years in Prison"

Over School District Intimidation Tactics.

By Barry Williams, AutismNews.com

Ray Parenteau is a parent of a child with autism and the co-founder
of AutismAdvocate.net . He has stood up countless times and
advocated for the educational rights of children with autism and
other disabilities in this small central Arizona town of Prescott
for the last several years.

In just the last 90 days he has filed and prevailed in 8 Arizona
Department of Education complaints and one due process complaint
while representing 6 students.

Yesterday he met with Prescott Unified School District's
superintendent Kevin Kapp and officials the Department of Justice
from Denver Colorado and came to a resolution agreement concerning
the discrimination of a hearing impaired child with down syndrome.
It was there second time out in a little over a year.

In this case the principle of the junior high school told a students
parents "that it would be too upsetting to the regular students" for
the disabled child to attend here" the family was told. The student
was unable to attend his home school for over one month while the
problem was sorted out.

At 7am this morning Mr. Parenteau he was awakened to a half dozen
plain clothes detectives with guns drawn serving a warrant for his
arrest He was charged with 1 count of fraud and 31 counts of forgery
resulting from a contract between his company and the district from
a due process complaint to educate his son.

"I have done nothing wrong. "This is a clear case of intimidation
between the Prescott Unified School Distinct and myself to prevent
me from helping the kids that need it the most." states Mr.
Parenteau. I was just trying to hold them (the district)
accountable and give the kids a chance to succeed."

READ MORE AT: (copy and paste)
(That is if you want to read the biased version - Mike)
http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?
SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=62649&TM=32274.19

AutismNews.com

PUSDinCRISIS.com

Please send this email to everyone you know. Ray is my advocate for
my two kids with autism. I know it is a smear campaign and he will
be found innocent!
--------------------------------------------------------------

Now in this case this Advocate/Father is looking at a century and a
half behind bars for coming to a settlement (that means it's
settled..right ? Wrong...) with the district regarding payment for an
inhome program. Who knows how long this father paid for
it out of his own pocket. But because he paid someone half of what
the district gave him AND because he is an Advocate.. he is facing
fraud charge and other charges based on keeping part of what he was
probably already owed, and that 'part' is the key word. We must
send a message to our President Elect, to all of those that wish to go
after Advocates like we are some kind of 'wanted' people on
pictures in the post office. If someone were to break the law and
take some funds that they were owed back to them in an 'unwritten
agreement', would they be charged with anything.. and would they have
even broken the law. Just as an Advocate is not allowed to directly
quote the law based on a circumstance (Although we do), A school
district that admitted they had not given the child
his Civil Right should as well be accountable. This father has done
nothing more then what should have warranted a warning or at the most
a lawsuit asking for the funds back..then he could have countered on
the fact they owe him even more.
Instead state troopers come in with guns in hand and ready to shoot a
Father of a child with Autism who wants to help others.. and instead
of going after him for helping others they are making a media parade
about how he 'helped himself' and omitting the fact that they did not
help the child which led to a due process which led to a settlement -
a far cry from someone committing a crime that would call for even a
day and a half behind bars.. let alone 150 years.. When are we just
going to say " ENOUGH ALREADY !!! " I have already stated this and
will continue to do so.
In this last week we've seen the CNN reports at
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/17/seclusion.rooms/index.html and now
that we see this - Have we heard of any pending charges in that case ?
They want all Advocates to shake in their shoes. I will not.
Instead we shall shake their shoes, vote for the Autism Reform ACT and
let them know.. this isn't a request to further my agenda.. the ACT is
already in the lead by far, but I think we should
" lay the hammer down " on this and let our future President know that
we shall not be intimidated through tactics such as this. I refuse to be.
http://www.change.org/idea/view/accept_and_sign_the_autism_reform_act_of_2009
Michael E. Robinson, Sr, The Office of Advocacy for Autistic Children
I appreciate your support in helping children with Autism and other
disabilities.
Another very strong idea that should be looked at by all to help so
many that need this.. Regarding Medicaid Waivers being fully funded .
please look at this and vote accordingly - this will change the future
of many.. the site for the Medicaid Reform is at:
http://www.change.org/idea/view/fully_fund_medicaid_waivers_for_the_developmenta\
lly_disabled

This electronic mail message and any attached files contain
information intended for the exclusive use of the individual or entity
to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is
proprietary, privileged, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure
under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, (18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521.)