Yesterday a friend of mine gave me an important assignment. She doesn't know she did and I hope she won't mind that I took her misunderstanding to inform others.
Having a daughter, Alisha, who has been profoundly impaired since birth I have been involved in the special education process for eighteen years. I have watched my other kids pass her by quickly in milestones only to move onto things I was fairly certain Alisha would never reach.
She does not talk, walk, eat by mouth, sit up, pick up objects, scratch her face, roll over, push away people trying to harm her, brush her teeth, blow her nose...
She laughs inappropriately, plays with toys a six month old would enjoy, has seizures, vomits unexpectedly, wears three different devices to help combat high muscle tone, uses a cochlear implant to help her to hear, has eyes that float in different directions, drools excessively...
If I stop there you may wonder what's the point of going to school. By the word's standards she will never "fit" in. Some in the world do not think her life has value at all.
In 1990 the federal government passed a law called The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, (IDEA). It is designed to protect the rights of students with disabilities ensuring that all children receive a free appropriate education no matter what the disability.
Special education is not some sweet name we call education to refer to kids who are "special". It is to differentiate the type of education needed. Specialized. Tailored. Specific. The education Alisha receives is based on what Jeff and I along with her teacher, physical therapist, occupational therapist,and speech and language therapist determine are the goals to work toward for the school year. It is called the Individualized Education Program, (IEP).
Without this law and plan Alisha may be sitting in a classroom without any assistance, with typical peers, learning about chemistry and geometry. Now that makes me say, "what's the point?".
The placement for kids who have disabilities is not always clear or easy. Often imperfect. And the purpose is not to make typical students more compassionate or tolerant towards those with disabilities. Although it does happen and is certainly hoped for. Most importantly their placement is valuable for them. They are valuable.
Over the years I have struggled with where I want my daughter to be on the "charts" and where she really is. It's almost a lifetime of grieving. But it is also an enormous opportunity to move closer to God and what He values.
IDEA is to me an idea. It is the idea that all people matter. It is an idea to strive toward individual goals that matter. It is an idea that gives hope to students and parents.
No comments:
Post a Comment