How Not to Get Wheelchairs For Your Kids

A woman in Israel, allegedly frustrated after trying for years to get government authorities to provide customized wheelchairs for her teenage children, threatened to blow up her van in front of Israel's parliament building yesterday. She was frustrated after her son, who has CP, fell from a substandard wheelchair and had to be hospitalized. After a three-hour standoff with authorities, the mother surrendered peacefully and left escorted by the director-general of the Israeli parliament.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said, "She is going into the Knesset (parliament) to talk in order to solve her problem."

The woman had claimed to have a gas canister inside the van, along with herself and her daughter (who also has CP), and said she would detonate it if her demands were not met. Rosenfeld announced that the mother will not be arrested "at this time."

Shortly after the incident outside the parliament building, a non-profit organization announced that it will help buy custom wheelchairs for the children. Variety Israel describes itself as, "A non-profit organization, acting for the welfare of sick and disabled children up to the age of 18 years with special needs." The organization will also help the family purchase other medical equipment.

Despite the happy resolution of the Israeli family's struggles, I don't recommend threatening suicide as a self-advocacy strategy. Especially here in the US, it could have some serious unintended results. I don't want to read a headline that says, "Mother of Child with Disability Sent to Guantanamo Bay!"