Small Steps Count Too

So a dear friend told me she got a call from her childrens' school asking her to be the parent representative for the school's Special Education Parent Advisory Council. I immediately rejoiced. Given the clanging sound produced by the stigma of 'special ed' and the incredible number of children (and adults, for that matter) who need services, it is critical that there be sensitive, thoughtful people available to provide information or just lend an ear.

There are tons of ways for children to develop cognitive or physical barriers to learning. Sadly, too many of them derive from poor judgment on someone else's part (i.e., drug, emotional or physical abuse). Without information, training and support in dealing with such students, today's teachers are in a tough situation, to say the least. Not enough can be said about the need for collaboration between the front office, parents, teachers and whatever specialists are on hand in a given school. I remember the struggles another friend of mine had as she tried to get help for her dyslexic son. It was amazing to see her stonewalled at every turn even though she provided documentation, her own research and a host of other information. I'm sure the schools played no small part in her decision to finally move away.

My parent rep friend, an aggressive researcher and self-taught expert on special needs (with which she has extensive personal experience) has told me at least a jillion things about the emotions, impulses and physical manifestations of children born to drug addicts. She is passionate about information as a means to eliminate discrimination and though she may not realize it , will be an amazing source for parents trying to understand what is happening with their children.

All children, regardless of birth history, deserve an opportunity to be educated in a manner respectful of them as human beings, and with the willingess of parents like my friend, it seems a little more possible.