Dear Citizens of the United States, I am petitioning today to urge you to stand up for people with Acquired Brain Injuries by signing your name in support of the many people with this disability like my Son Raymond Gould that go day to day with no help from our State or federal government. I am asking our State Government to rewrite the bylaws or reword the bylaws for eligibility of the SHIP Program (Statewide Head Injury Program.) here in Massachusetts to allow Acquired Brain Injuries to be covered as well. I also am requesting that funding be made available for Acquired Brain Injuries immediately. I am also requesting that the Federal government put a fully funded program into place for all Brain Injured people. There are programs for Developmental disabilities, Autism, now is the time to help people with Brain Injuries, and they are American citizens in need of help desperately. As an advocate and Mother of a child with disabilities due to a severe Acquired Brain Injury, I am honored to live in the country that enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act. However I feel my son is being discriminated against with his disability. There many people in Massachusetts who live with acquired brain injuries and are not eligible for any help through any agencies or programs because of either no funding and because of the way the SHIP Program worded their bylaw eligibility requirements when this program started. Thus causing these people to be institutionalized and set them back in their recovery to live independently. There are NO programs federally funded or State funded to help People with Acquired Brain Injuries. This is a disgrace being that we live in the United States of America’. I was told by many that the bylaws were worded as such to prevent stroke victims from receiving assistance through the SHIP program. I feel it is not only important, but also necessary, that our State of Massachusetts and Country especially takes action immediately to guarantee equal rights for people with disabilities worldwide especially those with Acquired Brain Injuries. As President Obama said, "This extraordinary treaty calls on all nations to guarantee rights like those afforded under the ADA. It urges equal protection and equal benefits before the law for all citizens; reaffirms the inherent dignity and worth and independence of all persons with disabilities worldwide." Right now, our country has the unique opportunity to play a vital role in the lives of those who live with disabilities worldwide. Please help Raymond Gould get the help he deserves as an American Citizen. Raymond Gould, who is 27 yrs old, suffered a brain injury due to a sinus infection. Raymond is not a stroke victim; he has suffered a brain injury no different then those who suffered a traumatic brain injury and yet there are no programs helping him. He sits in a nursing home with 80-90 yr old residents. This is discrimination and truly a disgrace being we live in the United States of America. Yet we still are aiding foreign countries and foreign children and we cannot help our own. Thank you for your support and help Sincerely, Carol Gould (Mother of Raymond J Gould) 475 Rollstone Street Fitchburg, Ma 01420 774-641-0316