Special Education Is a Service, Not a Place

I came across this letter a few days ago.  I wrote it when our school district reinstated a segregated classroom for students with “low-incidence” disabilities (i.e. autism and Down syndrome).  This new classroom would be K-8, meaning that students from middle school would be bussed to an elementary school (not their neighborhood school) for part of their day.  I was stunned.  The district had closed this same classroom just four years earlier.

Thank you, Mr. Bailey

Inclusion is not a curriculum or method — it’s a core belief.  It’s knowing in your gut that every student has something to contribute, that diversity in a community leads to growth for all, that who we let in the door speaks volumes about the health of our culture, and that we need each other. 

People First

Consider these two introductions:

• This is my friend Helen.  She graduated from Radcliffe College.  In college, she learned French, German, English, Greek, and Latin.  She has traveled around the world as an author, political activist, and lecturer.  Although she lost her sight and hearing at a very young age, she has accomplished many great things.
• This is Helen. She is blind and deaf.

Do you know who this person is?

Heroes

Karen Gaffney is a remarkable athlete and public speaker who also happens to have Down syndrome.  

The Right Questions

“I don’t think she belongs in the regular classroom.”  My chest tightened, and I tried to take it in.

The Chicken Dance

When our daughter, Eleanor, transitioned to middle school, there was an Honor Roll, and Eleanor wanted to be on it.  There were gold, silver, and bronze levels, and in order to make the bronze, all class grades had to be at least 80%, and your average had to be 85%.   Her one challenge was Mr. Jackson’s reading class. 

All Together

Eleanor and friends in Mrs. Kinney’s class.  Second grade.  

I’m going to start by quoting Congress.  Stay with me.

When the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was renewed in 2004, Congress stated that “Disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to participate in or contribute to society” (section 601, c, 1).  

Lessons on Monkey Bars

New school, new playground.  Eleanor and I were checking out the equipment.  She had been in third grade for a couple of months, but it was a first visit for me.  Eleanor looked around, and said to me, “Look at the monkey bars!”  She pointed to a new piece of playground equipment.  “Yes,” I replied, “they look so fun!”

Eleanor was quiet for a minute.  Then she said, “I like that!”

Then it hit me.