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Hilary, Congratulations on at least getting the judge to listen. It is hard for people who don't know PD to understand the ups and downs of the illness. It certainly is counterintuitive to think that someone can be fine one minute and 30-60 seconds later be "off" with all that that entails and then 15 minutes to a half hour be fine again.. I am afraid that the social workers saw that and assumed that you were faking or exaggerating deliberately. Unfortunately, they don't have the ability or training to be able to change their opinions and you have experienced the results of that. Maybe an approach to take is to try to educate them about PD. It sounds like what they don't know is hurting you (and your kids). They see it from the view of an outsider looking in and see only a part of the picture at that. Give them brochures explaining your symptoms. I don't know whether I can be of help but please consider me a resource if you think I can assist in some way. Charlie Hilary Blue wrote: > The social worker picked me up and we went to pick up Jessi at her new high > school. I go to the main office, they send me to "H 4" right on the other > side of the school - about a half a mile of corridors - i get lost on the > way, and i'm practically in tears - a kind lady directs me and i practically > bump into Jessi , who had got lost looking for me. Although theoretically i'm > 'on', i'm under a lot of stress, and i'm getting tired. > Afore mentioned social worker parks her car in a parking garage the equivalent > of 2 or 3 city blocks from the courthouse, and then sets off at a gallop for > the courthouse - because we are running late , having taken so long at the > school. I switch into automaton mode, just praying i'll make it to the court, > trying to forget the fact that my lawyer wanted to speak to me before the > hearing - that is another story. somehow i dragged myself into the building > and down another set of corridors, to collapse on a bench outside the > courtroom. I was dizzy, sweating profusely , and waving arms and legs in all > direction. The picture of a perfect mother! At the risk of sounding paranoid, > i almost think she did it on purpose. My lawyer was talking to the main social worker > when i arrived, and he told me that they believe that i am using PD as an > excuse for not doing things, and that i am capable of far more than i do - > after four years, they still dont believe me. > Anyway it was decided to agree to the plan - that Jane Amy goes into an > independent living program, and that Jessi is at home on trial or 6 months, > but his time my lawyer got up and told the judge how unhappy i was with their > total misunderstanding of my situation, citing my "ongoing struggle with PD'. > The judge - it has been the same one at all these hearings - looked at me as > if he saw me for the first time. Then he turned to my lawyer and said "My > father has Parkinson's. It is a terrible disease" > > Hilary Blue -- ****************************************************************************************** Charles T. Meyer, M.D. Middleton (Madison), Wisconsin [log in to unmask] ******************************************************************************************