LETTER TO THE EDITOR: State Representative Mortified By Remarks by Framingham Democratic Chair

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FRAMINGHAM – As Chair of the Framingham School Committee, State Representative for the 6^th Middlesex District and a member of the Framingham Democratic Committee, I am mortified by the Framingham FDC chair’s repugnant comments about special education during last week’s City Council meeting.

As a member, I want to make it abundantly clear that these remarks are not representative of my own views or my public service in Framingham.

We often express our gratitude for Framingham’s diversity, and that includes the tremendous neurodiversity and ability diversity in our community.

Children and families who represent this diversity around us are to be celebrated for their strength, their resilience and for the many other ways they enrich our community. We support them and we advocate for them not as burdens, but as our brothers and sisters in this community.

Over the past 7 years I have had the privilege of working with F-SEPAC, Super Parents, Autism Alliance of MetroWest and other special education advocacy groups. The stories of these families are inspiring, and I urge Mr. Hugo to spend some time with any of these organizations. Any measure of time would quickly dispel any notion of our children being a burden in any capacity to our community. Our children are a source of inspiration for our community, and it is a privilege to be a steward in their individual development and journeys.

Priscila Sousa

Framingham School Committee Chair

6th Middlesex State Representative

Framingham Democratic Committee member