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To the editor:
Reference is made to the editorial on Special Education in the March 1 issue of the Rappahannock News.
There are some thoughts that I would share with Mrs. Quaintance and the members of the school board in view of their position.
Several years ago, l was privileged to attend a Cleft Palate Seminar at the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic in Lancaster, Pa. Cleft palates, simply described, are hairlips on one or both sides of the face and perhaps incomplete closure of the palate in the mouth. Speech is difficult for these people and understanding them is difficult.
The clefts on the face are very unattractive. It is a sad commentary but plain average people make cleft palate patients the butt of all kinds of cruel jokes. They find it hard to find work and acceptance in society. In too many instances, these people develop anti-social attitudes of varying degrees and end up in prison for having committed one crime or another. Some of these people have stolen, out of frustration for not having employment; this was due to their appearance and very poor speech.
I was astounded to learn at the seminar that the State of Pennsylvania underwrites the entire cost of the treatment of these children from birth to adulthood. This is true no matter what the financial position of the parents happens to be. It includes the costs of all surgical treatment, dental treatment, any psychological therapy needed, indeed any expense involving the reconstruction
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