My E-Mail To The Office Of Curriculum Of The Georgia Department OF Education

I was surprised recently to learn that Alzheimer's and other dementias aren't taught in our Georgia school system unless we, the advocates teach it by being invited into the school.

I have long thought that this is inadequate, being that a diagnosis is made every minute, and that our kids know this disease exists and kills, but may not know why.

For this reason, I have asked Pam Smith (director of curriculum) of the Georgia Department of Education to help me sort this out and hopefully work this into our Biology and/or Human Anatomy programs.

Here is that e-mail:

Dear Ms Smith,

My name is Bill Craig. I am a 61 year old Young Onset Alzheimer's patient and an advocate working out of our Atlanta chapter.

As an advocate, it is my job to oversee any legislation which affects the patients and caregivers who have to deal with the 6th-largest killing disease in our country.

We make ourselves available to anyone who needs assistance, as well as speaking to communities and contacting our state legislators to ensure their support.

Being that my "specialty" is non-compensated caregivers and community education, I recently discovered that Alzheimer's and other incurable dementias are not taught in our school systems unless we Advocates are invited in to speak to the students.

While we are happy to do so, we believe it should be made part of the curriculum taught to all our high school students. Alzheimer's is diagnosed every 69 seconds and chances are good those students already know of a patient with the disease or soon will.

So I am hoping you can advise me on where to begin with my task, who to contact and what

we can do to bring our effort to fruition.

Thanking you in advance for your assistance, I am

Sincerely yours,

Bill Craig
=====================================================================
=====================================================================

Alzheimer's joke:
My grandmother had Alzheimer's and Bulimia. She'd binge-eat and then forget to vomit. That's why she was so huge, I reckon.
======================================================================
======================================================================
In other news, the aarp wants you to send 'em $5.00, so they can tell that 12 person super committee not to cut our Social Security benefits.

Something tells me they already know our feelings on that matter, so I'll just hang on to my five bucks, thanks!
=======================================================================
=======================================================================

======================================================================
======================================================================
Thinking of driving drunk? Don't do it!

=====================================================================
=====================================================================
And don't forget the animals and click to feed.

Thanks,
Bill