îl’f glorila uh ©bseruer
Page A4
lune 21. 2006
O pinion
Opinion articles do not
necessarily reflect or represent the
views o f The Portland Observer
‘Titles’
The following essay by Portland
State University student Carman
Anderson earned her an award by
Presidents Commission on the Sta­
tus o f Women:
C arman A nderson
I cam e into this world a baby
branded with titles. I was called
unfortunate, at risk, ward o f '.je
court and foster child.
I was born in Portland, Ore. in
1972 to a heroin addicted teenager
and former professional boxer. My
m other’schallenges with the world
led me to be raised by her oldest
sister. I am certain that decision
by
Never too late to change
my childhood being disrespected: erty line.
personality began to change when anom aly, special education parent,
My son was bom in 1990 when he was a one-year old. I noticed he source o f pity, and so strong.
noram I bitter about my adult memo­
ries of childhixxl being polluted. I was 18 years old. I was still a w as very irrational and w ould
I felt so lucky when my son was
Everything I experienced in my life typical teenager hanging out with shriek unexpectedly. I also noticed diagnosed with autism. I also felt
has brought me here to Portland my friends, I just had a baby boy in that he w as not uttering a single like I was ready for the incredible
State University to be the first col­ tow. I loved my son and was not word. His behavior progressed and journey I had to look forw ard to. I
sorry that I made the decision to he began to add odd repetitive have been the source o f adm iration
lege graduate in my family.
As a teenager I was a stereo have him alone. When I was preg­ motions. I started thinking o f all the and curiosity. I have been asked
type; com posed o f many titles I nant with my son I saw a movie at TV show s and articles about au­ how I handle it; being a single
was cal led troubled, runaway. High the theater called “ Rain M an." It tism that grasped my attention. I m other of a d ev e lo p m e n ta l^ d is­
School drop-out, "high risk” em an­ was a popular movie about an au­ was o f course no expert, but by the abled child. I always thought I d o n ’t
cipated minor, and eventually teen­ tistic man. Following the movie there t i me my son was t wo years old I was have a choice, he is my son. W hen
was a plethoraof information about convinced that he was autistic.
age mother.
I think back to the decisions my
A fter my son was diagnosed at m other made in regards to raising
I ran aw ay from hom e w hen I autism. Autism was all over the TV
was 16 years old. All those years and I made sure I learned all 1 could age three with autism . I was pre­ me; I suppose I did have a choice.
o f being treated like an adult because I was fascinated. My so n 's scribed m ore titles. I was called an M y son is my blessing and my gift:
I consider m yself lucky to be his
mother. I am m ajoring in the Child
and Family Studies program here at
Portland State. I am also working
tow ards a m inor in Black Studies. I
want to be an advocate and educa­
tor for parents and foster parents
raising children with developm en­
tal disabilities. I know what a chal­
lenge it can be, but I want to steer
parents tow ards the blessings. I
want to be a voice and an ear for
fam ilies, so I can provide them with
valuable counseling, information,
continued
'y f
on page AS
Carman Anderson with her son
saved my life. Although I was given
a stable home life com plete with
weekly piano lessons, a puppy and
plenty o f dysfunction, I was still
troubled. I rem em ber on Friday
nights packing all of my belong­
ings to go and spend the weekend
with my “real m other." In her com ­
pany I was subject to w hatever her
activities were. I did love my mother,
but her lifestyle scared me. On one
occasion my mother injected heroin
in front of me resulting in an over­
dose. I was trained at 5 years o f age
to check to see i f she was st i 11 breath -
, ing by holdi ng a mirror to her m outh.
I was not around to do that when
she overdosed in 1996 and died at
the age o f 4 3 .1 am not bitter about
caught up w ith me. I felt I had an
adult m ind far beyond my years
and rules did not and should not
apply to me. I ended up dro p p in g
out o f high school and g etting my
G E D my ju n io r year. A fter all,
school w as forchildren, not som e­
one like me. S hortly a fter g rad u a­
tion I fu lfilled all “high risk ” teen
stereo ty p es and becam e a p reg ­
nant unw ed m other.
I am a statistic represented in
many studies, polls, and surveys.
The results have granted me even
more titles. I am called a single
mother, welfare recipient, housing
project resident, low skill worker,
and a person living below the pov-
Now Is The Time to
21st A nnual C onference
National Organization O f Black Elected Legislative Women
Portland, Oregon June 29-July 2, 2006
at the Doubletree Lloyd Center Hotel & Executive Meeting Center
Gustavus A. Aranda
Senator John Edwards
Keynote Speaker, Friday, June 30 at 9am
John Edwards
2004 candidate for Vice President of the United States and former U.S. Senator from North Carolina
Carlotta Walls LaNier
one of the "Little Pock Nine"
2006 National Honoree
Gustavus A. Aranda, Pharm.D., M.Sc.
University of Southern California
Dr. Andriette Ward
Dr. Andriette Ward, M. D., M.P.H.
Carlotta Walls LaNier
Childrens Hospital, Los Angeles
Featured in O Magazine, February 2006
O th e r speakers & presenters in c lu d e :
Dr. Titus D. Duncan, M . D., F.A.C.S.
Dr. Carolyn M. West, Ph.D.
Senator Margaret I 'arter
2006 Gmference Chair
Dr. Barbara Earl Ward, M.F.A.
To register please call 503.986.1722, State Capitol or 503.282.6846, Portland. A limited number of community scholarships
Educational CEUs can lx; available. Please call: 503.986.1655. Email: sen.margaretcarter(o state.or.us
»
is
available.
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