For 15 years, the advocacy agency,  The Troubleshooters,  exposed  the bureaucratic and societal  violence heaped upon people with developmental disabilities and their families, offering solutions and practical applications of advocacy techniques. Mainstream media once called our newsletter "Government's Ann Landers", not realizing that we did not work for the government, but only for our families. Now The Troubleshooters  is brought to you by our world-wide civil rights organization - "The Chain Reaction". Welcome new and old advocates readying for the 21st century.  Empower,
Advocate, Change Agentry, Enlighten.

The following excerpts from faxes,  e-mail and conversations are all true.  Personal details are sometimes changed to insure anonymity.
       
Dear Troubleshooters,
       My sister's 17 year old son has autism and in the last two years his condition has turned violent, injuring himself several times and once causing a detached retina of his care provider.  His parents are distraught.  His school district says that money is no object, but what can anyone do?
                                       Loving Auntie
       
Dear Loving Auntie,
        How grand that you refer to his "condition" as something separate from himself. Only a few seem to know that he is not his disorder. Great neurologists have taught us that  the teens bring on a physical change in the brain of many persons with developmental disabilities. Therefore, rush that young man to the largest research and treatment hospital in your state for a complete and in-depth neurological exam. The school district, together with your state department of social and health services, can pay for this, along with any family medical insurance, including Medicaid.         (Cont'd)