Dear Mr. Trump,
I feel the need to write this letter in defense of the students I work with daily; the students that you consider to be less of a person because of their disability. Allow me give you some of my background; I’m a job coach, which means I accompany students with special needs (mainly high school students) to their place of employment and assist them in the community to gain practical skills and experience. We monitor behaviors, offer strategies to overcome obstacles and the best part is, we get to see their progress and accomplishments. Pretty cool, right?
The image of you mimicking a reporter with a physical disability will be ingrained in my memory. Forever. The fact that some of your supporters had the audacity to laugh, to egg you on and defend you as you were doing this is sickening. It’s just plain sickening. I have witnessed many people making unkind comments about the students I work with, but never someone in such an esteemed position as you currently are in. Whether it’s the janitor looking at my student funny, or one of their co-workers who doubt their ability out loud, I never hesitate to defend these extraordinary individuals.
As a future social worker, I do not agree with many of your political, social or economic views, but I am not writing this for political reasons. I am writing this because no decent human being with a conscience would openly, publically and joyfully mock another human being for something they have no control over. This type of behavior may have been acceptable in the 1800’s when slavery, oppression of women and segregation of individuals with disabilities was the law of the land; but this is not acceptable behavior for a presidential candidate in the year 2016.
Your remarks, "The poor guy... you ought to see this guy" is completely mistaken. Those with disabilities aren't 'poor', in fact they are some of the richest people I know, rich in a sense that they know nothing but love and compassion. They teach me how to be a better person through their positive outlook on life. My students don't need your pity, they need someone who will stand up and fight for them. They need someone who will fight along side of them, not ridicule them for a condition they have no control over.
As I said, this is not a political piece, I am not here to say unkind things about you or to spread hatred. I am not going to do this because I have learned too much from my students to stoop to your level. They know nothing but pure kindness and these are some of the lessons I learn from them. They are resilient, they are genuine, and they are some of the hardest workers I have ever met.
I am writing to you in defense of a student with down syndrome that has the biggest personality you will ever find. I am writing to you in defense of an autistic student that will clean an entire office and leave it cleaner than I could ever make it. I am writing to you in defense of a student with cerebral palsy whose smile will literally light up the room, and whose hugs will make even the worst day better. I am writing to you in defense of an intellectually disabled student that is a paraprofessional in what could be one of your grandchildren’s classrooms. I dare you to spend a few hours with these individuals, your philosophy on life will be changed.
I am asking you for a public apology for your actions. I am asking for an apology to the reporter that you mocked, and an apology to the 50 million Americans with a disability that you might one day be representing. I am asking you to own up to your behaviors, just as I ask my students own up to theirs.
Sincerely,
Katie Merritt
