Rosa Martinez and Eliana Martinez
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Eliana Martinez born September 15, 1981 was a little girl who was a victim of AIDS during the early 80's when AIDS was most feared. Her mother was Rosa E. Martinez who became an AIDS activist because of her daughters condition. In 1989 they won a court ruling which would have put Eliana in a Plex-glass enclosure, "cage" in school. **Officials of the Hillsborough County School Board had wanted the child kept home, fearing she posed a health risk. A judge ruled Eliana could attend school if she stayed inside a special glass booth. School Board members and Mrs. Martinez were both dumbfounded. But Mrs. Martinez appealed the decision, after allowing everyone to think that she was actually thinking of going along with "the glass cage". Although she received a great deal of criticism, Mrs. Martinez had completed her objective. The whole world would know how "ridiculous and phobic" everyone who was fighting against her were. Instead, five days before Eliana was to go to school, she and her attorney Steve Hanlon filed a motion that kept Eliana out of school and the enclosure, exactly her intention. The room was built, the enclosure was seen all over the world. She had succeeded. "Her idea was brillant" exclaimed Mr. Hanlon. Rosa Martinez was no ordinary mother or client, she was on the case every step of the way. Mrs. Martinez made sure that she had met her objective. The news of the "Glass Cage," became international and the spotlight focused even brighter and stronger. In April of 1989 Eliana went to school for children with special needs, without the enclosure. Thanks to Rosa Martinez, all children and adults would never have to worry about this issue again. This is the legacy Rosa Martinez had fought for, her daughter would never be just another statistic in "Pediatric AIDS."
[edit] Articles
1."AIDS Patient Who Won Landmark School Case Dies"
2."District Braces for Eliana's First Day"
3.Eliana Martinez, 8; Won AIDS Court Test
4."Mother to Appeal 'Glass Cage' Ruling"
[edit] **footnotes
from the New York Times Article *[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE0DC113DF93AA15752C1A96F948260
