Advocate for disabled feted; she never let others sell her son short

Margaret Lee Thompson never gave up on her son.

Not when he was born with Down syndrome and needed lifesaving surgery.

Not when he was about to graduate from high school and didn't have a hope of finding work.

"No one was getting jobs in the 1980s," Thompson said of those with developmental disabilities. "None."

So Thompson went to a town meeting, stood up and spoke out. People listened — and they've been listening every since.

Thompson's son, Dan, got a job at Microsoft, where he worked in the mailroom for 14 ½ years before his death five years ago. And she went on to become one of the state's leading advocates for the rights of the developmentally disabled.

"Dan was such a hard worker," she said. "He wanted to work, and our family supported him."

Today, many more people with developmental disabilities can find work — doing office jobs, bagging groceries, even working as advocates for community groups.

Much of the credit for such advances goes to parents like Thompson, 66, of Redmond, who was recognized Tuesday night in Renton by her colleagues and friends for decades of service.

"She's extraordinary," said Sylvia Fuerstenberg, executive director of The Arc of King County, a 75-year-old organization that promotes the rights of developmentally disabled people.

Thompson stepped down last month after 21 years as coordinator of The Arc's parent coalition, which provides information for families on where to find support.

More than 200 people, mostly families with a member who is developmentally disabled, attended the group's annual picnic at the Renton Community Center. Several state lawmakers were also honored, but they turned the attention back on Thompson.

"Everybody in this room is here because of her," said John Cady.

Fifteen years ago, the Kirkland man and his wife, Chris, didn't know what to do when their 5-year-old autistic son, George, started to become violent. "It was Margaret who helped point the way out of crisis and provided information and contacts," he said.

George lived with his parents for 10 more years and now lives in a group home, Cady said.

"Little kids ought to be with their families," said Thompson, who overheard Cady's remarks.

Her eyes teared when she recalled Dan's life.

"If you can find something that they do well, you can connect them," she said. Dan was good at putting things in the right place and he liked to read. Microsoft's mailroom, where he was "the most accurate and fastest sorter," she said, was a good fit.

"I like my job, he used to say. I work for Bill," Thompson said.

When he died, Microsoft flew its flag at half-staff.

Jeff Hodson: 206-464-2109 or jhodson@seattletimes.com