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Emory Webster is 11 years old. She lives in Tucson, Arizona.
Emory does not like to cuddle. Her favorite thing to do in summer is swim.
Emory’s mom is Adiba Nelson. She says Emory likes to paint and hang out with friends.
Emory wants to be a DJ. She pretends to beatbox and scratch records.
Emory’s mom said: “Ms. Emory is a little firecracker. She is sassy as the day is long, but she’s also one of the sweetest kids ever and funny. Oh God. She has such a sense of humor. It’s ridiculous.”
Emory’s mom says Emory is a normal preteen. She said, “She gives me hell daily.”
Emory has cerebral palsy. It is hard for her to talk to other people.
Emory uses a device that helps her talk to other people. Her device is from the Division of Developmental Disabilities. The Division of Developmental Disabilities is called DDD.
Emory Webster, a social preteen with a lot of friends.
Emory’s mom says Emory’s device is old and broken. Emory’s mom said: “I went to plug it in and it sparked and smoke came out of it. I was like, OK, I guess it’s done.”
Emory had to wait 1.5 years to get a new device. DDD told her she could get a new device this summer. She has not gotten her new device yet.
Without the device, Emory cannot talk as well.
Workers at DDD said most people are happy with the help they get. They did not say anything about Emory’s device.
Emory’s mom said: “I always say, ‘Would you let your child sit with you and not speak for months? I firmly believe they make it so hard for families that they give up.”
Photos: Arizonans with developmental disabilities were promised help. Instead, they face delays and denials
Emory Webster
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Emory Webster, 11, with her mother, Adiba Nelson, in their home in Tucson, Ariz., on October 14, 2020. Webster was born with cerebral palsy. Nelson says Emory was evaluated for a communication device in July 2019 and she's still trying to get the device through Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division.
Emory Webster
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Emory Webster, 11, sits for a photo in her home in Tucson, Ariz., on October 14, 2020. Webster was born with cerebral palsy. Her mother, Adiba Nelson, is trying to get a communication device through Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division.
Eric Nunn
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Eric Nunn, 29, sits in his bedroom in Scottsdale, Ariz. on August 6., 2020. Nunn was born with Down's syndrome. He received services from Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division until he was six years old and then didn't qualify anymore. Nunn is a huge fan of the movie "Grease," he says he loves the songs and actors including John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
Eric Nunn
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Eric Nunn, 29, right, with his mom, Terri Myers at their home in Scottsdale, Ariz. on August 6., 2020. Nunn was born with Down's syndrome. He received services from Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division until he was six years old and then didn't qualify anymore.
Jaden Ruiz
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Jaden Ruiz, 9, in his bedroom in Avondale, Ariz. on October 12, 2020. Ruiz was born with autism and received services from Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division until he was six years old and then didn't qualify anymore. Ruiz's parents challenged the department and will have his services reinstated.
Jaden Ruiz
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Jaden Ruiz, 9, with his parents, Maria and Ivan in their home in Avondale, Ariz. on October 12, 2020. Ruiz was born with autism and received services from Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division until he was six years old and then didn't qualify anymore. Ruiz's parents challenged the department and will have his services reinstated.
Michael Lundergan
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Michael Lundergan, 32, was born with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. He requires 24-hour oxygen and sleeps with a ventilator at night. Michael requires 24-hour care, seven days a week. He receives his services through Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division.
Michael Lundergan
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Michael Lundergan, 32, was born with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. He requires 24-hour oxygen and sleeps with a ventilator at night. Michael requires 24-hour care, seven days a week. He receives his services through Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division. Michael with his mother, Darlene Jones-Lundergan, on August 5, 2020.
Tyler Stumpf
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Tyler Stumpf, 31, with his dog, Rigley, in his bedroom in Phoenix, Ariz. on October 12, 2020. Stumpf was born with Prader-Willi syndrome. Stumpf and his mother, Melody Linderwell, moved to Arizona from Iowa and Linderwell says she has struggled with communicating with Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division to get services for her son.
Tyler Stumpf
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Tyler Stumpf, 31, with his mom, Melody Linderwell, in their home in Phoenix, Ariz. on October 12, 2020. Stumpf was born with Prader-Willi syndrome. Stumpf and Linderwell moved to Arizona from Iowa and Melody says she has struggled with communicating with Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Division to get services for her son.