Mayor Bob Foster

On January 14, 2014. I attended Mayor Bob Foster’s final State of the City address that recounted successes of his two terms. Foster referred to keeping a 10-year-old child in mind as a “guidepost” for the decisions we all make and how it will affect that child’s future.

That resonated with me. Professionals, lay people, and parents have become very comfortable and complacent with concluding that children who are physically demonstrative, tactile and kinesthetic and easily distracted require a diagnosis, medication, and special education classes or services.

How will those labels, medication, affect that child’s future at age 18, 19 or 20?