The Crib: A Blog for New Parents

Posted by pecuellar on 10/25/07 - 11:04 AM

Every child in the United States has a right to an education, regardless of race, socioeconomic background, physical or emotional disability. To understand the full meaning of this right, it is important to realize that education is about more than books, programs and report cards. School is a social environment that allows children to grow friendships, coping techniques and confidence to handle different types of social and educational situations. Every child, including those with disabilities, has the right to an academic and social education.

In Texas alone, for the 2006-2007 school year there were 494,302 students having some type of disability enrolled in public school. These disabilities can range from speech/vision/hearing problems, autism, learning disabilities, severe brain trauma or multiple disabilities. At one time it was thought best to take children with disabilities away from mainstream children and educate them in isolation. This point of view is all but disappeared in Texas. Although the children have their own classes commonly referred to as PPCD (Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities) classes, the goal for complete integration is a growing trend. Because of the severity of the disability, some children may never fully reach this goal, however the fact that this is the ultimate goal changes everything. Today all children are exposed to and encouraged to interact with disabled children. Some schools offer Model Student Programs where mainstream children of the same age group spend part of their day in the PPCD class participating in learning activities with the special needs children.

It is now common practice that children with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in every part of a typical child’s school day, including library time, gym class and music. As parents, therefore, it is important that we join with schools to teach our children that the special needs children are above all else just children. There is nothing scary or malevolent about these children. They may be in wheel chairs or have a different external appearance but they desire exactly what every other student wants; to have a friendly, pleasant school experience.