First Blog

BLOG-

1/16/08
Greetings Friend,
This is my first time ever doing a blog and I am not sure how often I will post one to be honest. This is a wonderful way to reach so many people searching for answers on what I am doing. The next book. The bill for funding in MN for the Project Lifesaver Tracking System. The first book “ The Color Red”. How our family and Michael are doing. It is my goal to address all of these here.
Here goes……..
The next book- I am working on the next book profiling Minnesota families raising Autistic children. I have fantastic families involved in the project- however it is still in it’s early phase. Much has happened to say the least since I started the project in March of 2007. This has become a much larger project then I could have ever imagined, let alone several other projects in addition that I have taken on. It is all good and I am very pleased. I just am excepting the fact that this will be at best twice the amount of research, work and time then I had originally thought. I have had an overwhelming amount of support where the new book is concerned and exceptional families involved in the project. I have not had the opportunity to meet and begin the process with several of the families yet, other then in emails and phone chats. What I have found is that with each family the dynamics are very unique and that the best way for me to “do my best” is to spend time and work on their families chapter from start to finish first before getting involved with another family. In addition to keeping everything on tract it has allowed me the chance to really find the special niche` each families chapter has to offer. It takes time to do that. I am very excited and honored at the generosity that these families allow me to have with them. Many thought my first book “The Color Red” was a gateway of information on Autism, the next will truly tell a story of families raising children with Autism. I have been asked many times if I am stressed by this process. My answer is “yes” and then some. As a parent of an Autistic child, I know the real meaning of the word overwhelmed. This is the reason for my taking this a bit slower then planned and only working with one family at a time. I am learning so much and am so excited to share it with everyone. Please be patient with me to get to your family, you are on my mind often and our time together will be soon I hope. Please feel free to email me at anytime to have a chat or a check in. I love to hear from “my book families”.





THE BILL-
Where do I begin when discussing the bill. It is so complicated I hope I can explain where we are at, and what we are doing ( without getting to heavy into politics).
I will start out by stating this, when you have a good idea and open your mouth, be prepared to back it up and roll up your sleeves. I say that with a bit of a giggle as I suspected that I would be involved with the project when I started however I never thought I would be the “ring leader” and “writer” of the bill.
Here is the skinny on the bill-
Our county - Kandiyohi County is one of four (4) counties in Minnesota that offers a “tracking devise” that our Autistic son wears. It is a beacon devise that he wears on his ankle. It is about the size of a small watch. He has had this now for over three (3) years. It is provided free of charge by our local sheriff’s office that has a “task force” team that manages them each month with our family. This device is identical to the tracking devices that are used by the DNR to track animal in the wild. It offers a beacon sound in tracking up to 15 miles and under water up to 10 feet should Michael ever become lost. I have watched it ‘live” in action on a track and it is fantastic and lifesaving to say the very least. Michael was not a fan of this devise when he first got it, we hung tough as we knew no matter what we want him found if he should ever become lost. If you have read my first book, that statement will make more sense. It now is a part of him and he is use to it, and he can not take it off. With the recent “rash” of Autistic children becoming lost on Minnesota and Wisconsin with tragic endings this past spring I needed to do something. I was currently promoting the devises and talking about the need for funding when it all came full circle for me. Here is the timeline-
June 20, 2007 -
I was a guest on the WCCO radio talk show The Don Shelby Show in MPLS, MN. Don is a wonderful man who also saw the need to discuss the tracking devises in MN and the funding that is needed. While on his show, we discussed the recent tragedies of Autistic children wandering/sneaking out of their homes and drowning. It was a time for good discussion and a brief chat on the upcoming book.
June 21, 2007-
An article on Project Lifesaver’s tracking devise and our Michael wearing one was in the West Central Tribune, it was a great article that focused on the need for all those vulnerable to have this lifesaving technology available not just a select few. It also focused on the finance part of this devise and the “ how many children have to die before something it done” theory. Let’s keep in mind that people with Dementia and Alzheimer’s also wear these devises. It is a win- win for everyone once they are available to all in need statewide.
June 21, 2007-
10 AM- I was a guest on the TV talk show Showcase Minnesota discussing the book “The Color Red”, the upcoming book but focusing our time on the Project Lifesaver tracking devises and the dire need all MN families with vulnerable loved one’s are in to receive this. I also focused on the “looming tragedy” just waiting to happen to an Autistic child in MN.
After the show ended, I headed home to New London, MN to be there in time for Michael to return home from school. I had shut my mobile phone off during the drive as Susan my PR gal was with me and we wanted to take the time to discuss the past few days of work and go over some things and when my phone is on…it is ringing.
I arrived home around 1:30 PM to my house phone ringing. It was a producer from one of the TV news stations. What he told me, left me unable to talk. While I was “on air” doing the talk show this morning- only a few miles away from the NBC studio in Minneapolis, MN - Blaine, MN . Kaylie Dickerson- 5 years old and Autistic went missing and is believed to have wandered away from her families home. Police, Sheriff’s Dept, Rescue Diver’s and search teams along with K9 dogs, neighbors and family were franticly looking for her.
Their question was - Could I come in studio for the 5 PM news and discuss the tracking devises live? Many thoughts raced through my mind during that brief phone conversation.
I realized that with a 3 hour drive at best, not even considering traffic into the cities, I would not make the news, get Michael covered let alone do some prep for the discussion.
I asked them to keep me posted and I would do what I could from home for the time being. I sat diligently watching the news and my laptop for updates on the search.
At around 4 PM I received the call that Kaylie’s body had been recovered from a retention pond approximately 300 feet from her home in a neighbors back yard. Again, I was left with little to say over the phone as I was just numb. I sat with Michael in my lap for hours that night. I received a call that Anchorman Don Shelby was doing a segment of his “In the Know” on the WCCO 10 PM News to talk about the tracking devices.
Here is the link-
http://wcco.com/video/?id=28262@wcco.dayport.com


My 18 year old son said to me after the news that night….” what are you going to do about this mom”? I was unable to sleep for many days after this tragedy. Susan and I attended Kaylie’s funeral days later. At this point it is still to personal for me to talk about or discuss and share at this time, maybe later….
After Kaylie’s funeral I decided that the only way things are going to change is to roll my sleeves up and take the leap. In a summary this is what has been done thus far. I have been campaigning the idea to anyone willing to listen. A video of a “mock” search using our Michael accompanied with his dad done by the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office that was filmed is currently done and in the editing process and will be available to the public, communities, Law Enforcement and most important to government officials. It should be done and available in the next month, and a real eye opener. I am excited as this was truly a film of a realistic search that is more then impressive and speaks volumes. It shows why vulnerable people need this to save theirs lives, and the dedication of Law Enforcement, their talents and skill to get the job done.
I also learned this most important thing. Have we given any thought to those that look for these children and recover their lifeless bodies? Imagine what is does to them for the rest of their life? It is heartbreaking to them, when they know what they need to bring vulnerable people home alive and can not get the help, support and funding for the equipment to do so. In my countless discussion with Law Enforcement officials and officers state wide I constantly hear the stories of how many tragedies could have been avoided if this “lifesaving technology” was made available to those in need and to the people/departments we call upon to find our vulnerable loved ones.
I have been “honing” my skills and learning the bill writing process and the trenches of government. It amazes me how anything get’s done with the number of hoops one must jump through let alone the “dances” that seem to need to be done to make any headway. It most often seems I take one step forward and two back. I have been in contact with several Senators and Representative’s. My last answer was that funding would “probably” come from the Department of Public Safety and their budget is already done and approved at this time for this session/year. That means that at the earliest that this bill can go anywhere is in 2009 ( I was told this in 2007). The figures that I have been able to come up with is this…we will need $1.37 Million to get trackers, training and equipment for the people in need in the State of Minnesota to cover each county in MN. Once the initial costs are done, each county would need to maintain the program themselves. Our county maintains their’s by using funds from the Driver’s Awareness Program. These figures were a rough number for 2008. I know the amount sounds high. I ask myself this….what is your vulnerable loved ones life worth? With all of the “frivolous” spending that is done in Minnesota with our tax dollars can’t we find a way to save lives?
In this process I have also made this decision. At some point in the future I plan to run for office either in the Senate or as a Representative. I have learned much, and there is much to be done. Again, roll up your sleeves and jump into the trenches. One thing at a time however. This bill remains a focus for me. I plan to do all I can and encourage anyone interested to contact me and jump on board. I am not expecting this to happen over night and it may take us years to do. Standing strong with endurance is what I am counting on.
*Keep an eye on my website, it will soon be under construction and have more information and a section just for the bill and what you can do to help.
I have to stop now, life is happening all around me today. Mike is at school and I have to utilize that time as much as possible.
More later…
Julie