Forcing severely disabled kids to go to school...

Post Reply New Topic

So it occurs to me, perhaps there are better ways to give them exposure to the world. I mean granted I am not saying take anyone abnormal out of the education system, or anyone who needs extra support or help but is still able to learn in a classroom. I am more thinking of a few examples back when I was in highschool...the sort of individuals who aren't going to go on to college and would likely be unable to work or at best would be capable of part time simple labor.

Like there was this kid probably about 12 in a wheelchair, he was the size of a large baby and essentially had the build of one...and very similar behavior. Now granted I don't want to discredit that maybe underneath all that he was percieving and understanding more than an infant. But realistically I don't see what purpose wheeling him into a classroom to sit and be tended to when he cries whilst the teacher lectures and students listen and complete school work. I mean I seriously doubt this child was really learning algebra equations, comprehending reading and writing....so basically he was just sitting there all fastened into his wheelchair thing. Wouldn't such an individual probably be better off at home, free to crawl around and play and be cared for by a family? Rather than being paraded around in public school?..I get peoples obsession with everyone becoming independent but some people aren't going to become independent and I don't think its right to make them go through all the motions just 'because.'

I mean I think it should be case by case....but seriously, some kids like that one and other quite severe cases of disability really seemed miserable especially in that environment. I think they should really look at more individualized approaches in this area.

You would have had to ask him. That dude may have been crying because he couldn't reach something or he loved the teacher and wanted to kiss her. We have no way of knowing. It may not have been because he didn't want to be there.

There's a special needs room at my school where some kids are basically taken care of throughout the entire day.

Well yeah you are right I cannot really know for sure...if it was specifically unhappiness, I suppose I just don't see how someone like that would be happy being carted around a regular middle school. But that aside there was also the problem of said crying interfering with other students listening to lectures or doing schoolwork.

I guess I feel if this person had the physical build and mind of a baby/toddler perhaps school isn't a good place for them, just like it wouldn't be a good place for an actual infant.

Yeah, they had such a room at my school but it usually appeared over-croweded and the err....staff most of them had a very stern/harsh/unhappy demeanor about them. I felt sorry for those kids a lot of time thinking they'd be better off at home with their personalized support network including parents, family or any carers they usually work with at home...rather then having to sit in that room with those stern special needs teachers occasionally being exposed to the regular students. I mean even some of the less severe cases than the one I used as an example any time they could mingle a little if they so much as expressed themselves they'd have one of those stern faced helpers right on their a** to make them 'behave'.

Like one incident I remember in a math class where this girl with either low functioning autism or some other developmental kind of disability was in my class and seated by me and this other girl. Well during some free time in class we sort of included this LFA girl in our chat...I mean she wasn't all that into the conversation but was interacting with us. Then something funny happened and the three of us laughed well sure enough as soon as that girl was feeling comfortable enough to laugh and be joyful around classmates the stern face forcing her to go back to solemnly sitting appeared.

I didn't get it, I didn't see what was so wrong with this girl interacting with a couple people and laughing with them. I mean what because she didn't come off as completely normal her whole interaction was just 'wrong' to this stern looking lady.

Well, tell them! Tell them how you feel! I don't mean to be so vocal, but I can't stand seeing anyone hurt or being denied happiness.

I get what you are saying :/. It is probably an attempt to show the kid what a regular school math class looks like or something.

Actually having worked around and transported Special Ed students/children, I would say you're missing alot of whats going on. Theres so much more going on......

SpEd is almost entirely case by case at the district I work with. Its rare to see a "Class" of them up together unless they're similar in functionality. There are actually schools that are mostly centered around dealing with disabled students and working with them (In the very metropolitan area I live in anyway).

I'd posit that the main idea behind giving Special Needs students the option of going to school (Because in many cases it is very much just an option, though usually the parents make a decision one way or another), is to give them a chance to yes get out in the world, but also to see things and learn see what they're capable of. There's a few Employers around for instance that help give Special Needs High School students some basic work experience, even if its all they can do to do very light janitorial duties. At the same time getting these kids on a bus and into a school provides a chance for them to get different stimuli and interactions they wouldn't have had otherwise, and with a number of disabilities sometimes doing so can yield surprising results (Not always for the better, but sometimes...).

Alot of families end up feeling stuck with their disabled child/ren. Autism might be interesting enough, but if you're stuck with a non-verbal 150ilbs 14y.o. toddler that has a tendency to scream wildly and need constant underwear changes, chances are you're not gonna say no when the school district offers free transportation for "Educational purposes". Many parents look at it as finally being able to have some time of their own away from the responsibilities of looking after the kid, which ultimately does them good as well.

I'm not saying its a perfect system, or even a great solution. But these are just some of the factors that I've seen alot of which seemed to be missing from this discussion.

-Aldran

What isn't being missed though is that if kids are normally kept apart and are being included some in general education classes by other kids, then the aides should keep an eye on things but isn't the point to have some social exposure? Aides shouldn't allow teasing and bullying, but should be paying enough attention they can recognize a genuinely positive interaction and let it happen, not stop it because their charge isn't paying full attention to the teacher. Otherwise there really is little point being exposed to general
education. I don't think general education is just about the teacher led activities.