MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- An Inverness couple whose daughter has a rare genetic disorder met with Gov. Robert Bentley last month as they continue raising awareness of the disability that causes severe seizures and brain development impairment.

Dustin and Amy Chandler brought their 2-year-old daughter, Carly, who suffers from CDKL5, to meet with Bentley in Montgomery on Oct. 28 so they could ask him to maintain support for special needs education in public schools and funding for early intervention services for children.

They also asked Bentley to support legislation for medicinal marijuana, which could help control the numerous seizures Carly suffers on a daily basis that modern-day medicine can't affect.

"The purpose of it was to bring attention to CDKL5 and just to let him know we were out there, to really get him to meet Carly, to let him know CDKL5 is in the state," Dustin Chandler said in an interview. "It was a quick meeting."

When asked for a statement about the meeting, Bentley's office responded: "Governor Bentley listened to the concerns of Mr. Chandler and his family. The Governor is supportive of special needs education and early intervention programs to help those with disabilities or developmental delays. Governor Bentley is opposed to legalizing marijuana."

For Chander, who is a Pelham police officer, the idea of supporting legislation for medicinal marijuana may seem contrary to the badge. "It's becoming a hot topic on epileptic disorders," he said, noting cases where medicinal marijuana has significantly helped patients with their seizures.

In one case, a child suffering from roughly 1,100 seizures a month in Colorado began taking medicinal marijuana and the episodes dropped to less than 10, Chandler said.

"It would not necessarily help Carly's disorder and make it go away. It's just the quality of life. It's a treatment for the epilepsy and giving them a better quality of life," he said.

"So many parents are struggling to push to at least give us the chance to try it, because there is no medicine out there that works on these seizures. She's tried the heaviest of the heavy and they don't work. Now there's studies coming out saying this does help," he said.

Chandler's message to Bentley: "Don't take the choice of a parent to try a treatment or proper treatment of medicinal marijuana; don't take that away from a parent if the legislation comes across your desk."

Chandler, who serves on the board of directors for the International Foundation for CDKL5 Research, remains opposed to outright legalization of marijuana. "All I ask is to give it a shot and let us make that decision. If the doctors deem it a fair shot to try it, then we should be able to try it," he said. "When you have a daughter seizing up as many times and having to see that and hear it, it's miserable."

Chandler plans to hold discussions with other lawmakers around the state to raise support for the various issues surrounding CDKL5, which has at least two confirmed cases in Alabama. Most people with CDKL5 cannot walk, talk or care for themselves, while they may have visual and other sensory impairment issues.