Ryan White Rough Draft

Ryan White

Who is Ryan White? Ryan White was a young, well known, and intelligent individual. Ryan was born on December 6, 1971 with hemopheliac. Years went by after getting the treatment by the name of factorate, which then caused him to contract HIV/AIDs.

Ryan contract HIV in 1984, through blood-bassed products used to treat his hemopheliac. He learned that he had the virus when it was discovered that Ryan had contract a life-threatening lung infection. At first, Ryan was told that he had no more than six months to live. In the process of recuperating and thinking of the time he had left, Ryan confronted his mother with the thought that he wanted to live a normal life style; going to school, be with friends, and day-to-day activities. Unfortunately, for Ryan, his school and community wouldn’t accept. The local superintendent refused to allow Ryan to attend school. Ryan and his family wouldn’t take no for an answer, but he was still forced to “attend” school by telephone for several months while his case made its way through an administrative appeals process. Once the state board came to the conclusion that Ryan should be allowed to attend school, a group of parents sued to keep him out. The courts
ultimately ruled in Ryan’s favor, and so he did return to school.

Sadly, Ryan was met with taunts and unfounded rumors and some students chose to be home-schooled rather than attend the same school with Ryan. Ryan beared the brunt of storm with tremendous patience and grace, demonizing the people who sought to demonize him. However, the family ended up with the decision of moving to another community. According to Ryan, the family chose to do this because they felt it was their “desire to move into a bigger house, in order to avoid the life style of AIDs. Also, they wanted to be accepted by a community and school.” The family moved to Cicero, Indiana, where Ryan enrolled to his new school, Hamilton Heights, and was welcomed with opened arms. The pupils at the school took it upon themselves to learn and teach their parents and teachers about AIDs. Because of all the love that the students and teachers showed towards Ryan and his family, he was able to participate in day-to-day activities like he wished.

Between the times of his diagnosis in 1984 and his death in 1990, Ryan appeared on multiple television shows and magazine covers, and made a documentary about his life. He became friends with nation-wide known athletes and entertainers. Elton John, Greg Luoganis, and Michael Jackson let it be known to the White family that they were there to give all of their support. Ryan would speak out often and articulately about the challenges he faced and how people with HIV and AIDs needed to be shown some consideration.

On August 18, 1990, Congress passed a Public Law, the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDs Resource Emergency (CARE) Act. The Ryan White CARE Act supports the development of system s of care that are responsive to geographical needs and resources. The Ryan White CARE Act is a federal program that funds services for over 500,000 people with HIV/AIDs each year. The CARE Act is named in honor of Ryan White, and Indiana teenager who struggles everyday to make a difference.







Ryan White


By:
Sameerah Pittmon