"Sibling Presents to the Ohio House Finance Committee"

Jessica Kane
March 6, 2001

I want to take the time to thank Representative Carey and Members of the House Finance Committee for giving me this opportunity to address an issue that has been an integral part of every day of my seventeen years. I realize I may not have the wisdom of many of the people who are present today, but I have not lived a day of my life without loving my brother.

My name is Jessica Kane and I have spent all my life in my home in Cincinnati, Ohio. I only wish my brother could say the same thing. Kevin has a severe form of epilepsy and needs constant twenty-four hour care. You cannot imagine what a strain this placed on a family that is just trying to be a family. Without a doubt in my mind, my brother and I are the most precious things in my parent’s life. My mother had no option but to stay at home and care for the both of us, despite her own dreams and career. Yet, despite how hard people may try they cannot do it alone. When I was only six my family was faced with a decision that would impact all the years to follow. Their choice was to wait years on a waiting list for services that we needed at that moment or to place him in a facility. This was clearly not a choice. As a six-year-old I thought, “Finally get time with my parents all to myself.” I can tell you the meaning of compromising for a family considering I don’t know of any other way. This was my chance to be their shining star. Yet, the day he left I felt like the floor under my feet crumbled and I was left all alone. My parent may not have had bags under their eyes anymore from countless nights without sleep, but their hearts were tied to a piece of lead and thrown in the sea. Despite all the pictures of him around our home, he was still not there. His chair was empty, that was one place I could not even fill. I remember asking my Mom when would he be coming back and the only reply was a tissue full of tears. Even 1, despite my selfishness wanted my big brother around. I know as siblings do that he too wished he could be back home for our Saturday morning pancakes and afternoons in the yard swinging. There he had no pancakes, no yard with his swing and most of all we were not there. Luckily when the place closed he came home and now we were afforded in home services. This was difficult, trust me, having strangers in your house eating your food and sitting in your spot on the couch. Yet, I had the one thing that mattered back, my brother. I don’t give this testimony today to just waste your time with a nice story. I tell it in hopes that you will listen. The only place people and children with disabilities belong is in their homes. You may take your home for granted because there is little threat that it will be taken from you, but people like my brother have to fight for it. I ask all of you with family to take the pictures from your wallets and look at them, imagine what it would be like if they could not be with you. Community based services has literally been a godsend for my family and I. My only request is that you take a look at were people belong before your decisions are made. In my mind it is in their homes. So why should the money go anywhere else?