Help disabled children save for college

I recently read a story about millionaires collecting unemployment. Being self-employed, I've never had that luxury. When work is slow, the bank account drops, sometimes to nothing. Last year I was looking into getting a job during school hours when the public school suspended my five year old son. After months of testing, he was diagnosed with Asperger's and a mood disorder. Over the summer, I confided to a friend how hard it is as a single mom caring for a special needs child while keeping up with all the expenses. She understood. She also cared for a child on the spectrum. She told me about the respite their family received through Social Services because their child, with a similar diagnosis, received Disability. She urged me to apply to get help. When I did, I was told that he would not qualify because of his $3,800 college savings account. It was a slap in the face that it was the educational savings account they found objectionable. What message does that send? Disabled people don't belong in college? Do we want to keep them uneducated, sequestered in group homes, out of the public eye? Are we ashamed of our disabled children? If a disabled child can make it through college, they're much more likely to become a productive, tax paying citizen! I'm proud of my son. He's now back in public school, excelling in a smaller, quieter classroom setting. He's a brilliant little boy, and might someday make a fine engineer - IF I can ever afford to send him to college! Low-income families with disabled children should not be punished for saving to send their children to college. The rules need to change. Please join me with this petition to give 529 college savings accounts the same exemption status as 401ks!