20-year-old Prince Georges County resident Tiara Teasley has shown outstanding determination. At 17, she was a high school basketball player with dreams of college. Suddenly afflicted with an extreme allergic reaction, she lost most of her vision and spent months recovering her health. Back at school and doing well a few months later, she then suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident and spent 3 months in a coma.

 

That was 3 years ago, and Tiara has worked hard to make much progress in that time. She now attends a special high school and is learning life skills such as cooking, shopping, and banking. She loves to play Connect 4 and go out on field trips. She still uses a wheelchair and requires total care from her mother.

 

Tiara will graduate in a few months. "What's going to happen after graduation?" cries her mother, Tina. Without DDA funding, "will all of her hard work go to waste? Tiara benefits from being part of a program. Without that, she will lose all she's gained the last couple of years."

 

Not having her in a day program would also be a major hardship to the Teasley family. To make ends meet, both parents must work full-time. "We stand to lose everything," worries Tina.

 

Tina adds, "Tiara has not given up. Why should we?"

 

 

 

 

Developmental Disabilities Coalition