Fighting

for her son,

Janice Fialka

embarked on a

to journey of

understanding.

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SHARON LUCKERMAN
Special to the Jewish Naas

A

t a speech Janice
Fialka gave at the
re cent Midwest
School Social. Work
conference on Mackinac
Island, one social worker
warned another, "When Janice
speaks there's not a dry eye in
the house."
Just in case, a decorated box
of tissues was placed on every
table.
For years, Huntington
Woods' Fialka, 48, has cham-
pioned services and under-
standing for her developmen-

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grant in
tally disabled son. Micah, now
Karen Mikus, àclinical
14, and other children with
c ltologist created an innova-
special needs.
1 tive workshop presented
As a mother, she encoun-
around the country. The pro-
tered painful and frustrating
gram instructs par
obstacles in dealing
ents and profes-
with the doctors,
The Fialka-
sionals on how to
teachers and experts
Feldman family:
work together
helping her child. As
Emma, Janice,
without stepping
Micah and Rich.
a trained social
on each other's
worker and, until
toes.
last year, the 12-year
"The parent/professional
director of the Taylor Teen
partnership is not just about
Health Center, Fialka felt
negotiating conflict," Fialka
helpless, unable to communi-
explains. "It's more about
cate her distress over the way
understanding yours and the
her son was treated.
other side's needs."
With the support of a
As a toddler, Micah was
W.K. Kellogg Foundation

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absent Oi
There was
Fialka
from
neurologicliv
• .
one label remaining, she
in her 1997 poetry collectibr
It Matters, Lesson s from my
Son, "is for the mother: RAG-
ING BULL."
The first couple years of
Micah's life were very bleak,"
Fialka admits. "Especially the
isolation." Often, neither
friends nor professionals knew
how to help. Some questioned

“

,

ei?
187