Mother in San Antonio, Texas, pushes for disability services on her side of town

From the San Antonio Express-News:

One South Side resident is reaching out for the support of the community in the hope of making facilities and playgrounds places where those dealing with physical disabilities receive the same opportunities as those without.

Maria Medellin has been aggressively advocating bringing a children's hospital, therapy centers, and especially a community park that is accessible to children with special needs. Medellin has a 9 year-old daughter, Adela Medellin, who has cerebral palsy and other developmental delays. (The family is pictured.)

“I'm just trying to help on the South Side of town, where I grew up,” Maria Medellin said.

“We need hospitals, we need therapy centers, we need doctors who specialize in children with special needs. Right now, I have to go to the North Side whenever my daughter needs care."

As the South Side continues to expand and develop, Maria Medellin said it is a necessity that community officials and the public come together to support and begin implementing these ideas.

Maria Medellin said she has spoken with the office of District 4 City Councilman Philip Cortez and U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, hoping that they will find a way to get these projects started.

Cortez and other city officials are hosting a meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday (Sept. 22) at Arnold Park, 1011 Gillette. Cortez will listen to the public and their input on funds passed last year in the 2008 Bond could be utilized for improvements on the South Side.

Maria Medellin said she hopes other members of the community will come out and support her during the meeting.

“I know one person can't do it alone,” she said.

“These places can bring kids with disabilities and those with out together, and allow them to understand that they are all the same, just some require a bit more special attention,” Maria Medellin said.

“This brings to light that “every” child should have the opportunity to go to a playground and ride a swing, and play with other kids, not worrying that when they arrive to a park, not one swing is accessible to their needs.”

Maria Medellin said she hopes that anyone, whether they know of or have a child that deals with disabilities, help her in her quest of bringing a community park and other facilities for special needs children.

“I think the best thing that is going to come out of this is that maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow,” Maria Medellin said, “but years from now, someone in your family may have a special needs child and you're going to feel good that someone on the South Side where you grew up stood for these children to bring them what they need.”