October 27, 2007 3:51 PM
Loudoun County Public Schools - calling all Special Ed families
I had the distinct misfortune Friday of taking one of my kids back to school after his annual physical. I say distinct misfortune because I was absolutely devastated upon seeing his classroom - and feeling guilty that in focusing on a couple of my other kids' needs I neglected seeing that he has been spending his days in an inadequate and stigmatizing environment.
Even as I've been working on other special ed problems, this issue of Loudoun County special ed classrooms has been on my mind a long time now, but as a back burner issue. Now after seeing Daniel's classroom, it is front and center. With four kids with IEPS (for those new here, I have 12 kids and four have Down syndrome - 1 birth and 3 adopted), over the course of the last five years having dealt (just on the behalf of those four with IEPs) with 12 different teachers in seven different schools I have seen more than most parents of inclusion/mainstreaming/self-contained classrooms.
A couple of my kids needed a little more support than all-day inclusion and so I consented four years ago for them to be bussed out of their district to a "magnet" school which was brand new and where they started off with a spacious, inviting classroom.
Four years later I am completely disillusioned by the idea of self-contained classrooms. I heartily recommend that parents resist the schools' efforts for this kind of placement, as well as for busing kids out of their district.
The fact is that the self-contained placement - which is sold as being "better" for the kids - is actually often better only for the school district and staff. My own observation and that of other parents is that verbal promises are made in IEP meetings about the extent of inclusion which do not become reality the following year. There is simply not enough staff to get the kids to the classes, and many general ed teachers simply tolerate their presence, forgetting to include them on field trips and parties. Often when the kids are taken to what they call "specials" in Virginia - art and music classes - they are taken as a clump of special ed students to sit together at the same table with their aide rather than being scattered throughout the general population and under the charge of the classroom teacher. In other words, the school gets the credit for inclusion, when in reality the Special Ed kids are in a "separate but equal" limbo.
And they are still marked by the other kids as being different than. Laura at Adventures in Juggling had a great post on this perception by the general ed students of the "different" kids the other day - a perception that is only broken down by true full inclusion.
But I'm covering a lot of territory that needs more detailed attention. The purpose of this post was to share my disappointment that this year the special ed students at Mountain View School were moved from the appropriately-sized room they'd occupied for three years to a room that looks about half that size. Not only that, but a corner was carved out to place a desk and storage space for an itinerant therapist (one who goes from school to school). Can you imagine this happening to a general ed teacher? This is discrimination.
I was shocked that when we came in, my son had no place to hang his jacket or place his belongings. All were thrown in a heap on the floor. Maybe it wasn't the teacher's fault - maybe there just wasn't room for cubbies and coat hooks. Maybe she found the room/situation depressing herself. I'm sure she couldn't have been happy to have her class relegated to a small space - and then forced to give up some of that precious square footage for a desk and shelves for a therapist and all her equipment. As a former teacher, I know it must be hard to feel inspired when you are so clearly low man on the totem pole. And I'm sure it filters through to your treatment by other teachers.
So here you have the teachers in the most demanding situation being given a less-than-adequate environment to do their job to the best of their ability. And you have the most vulnerable kids being given a less-than-desirable environment to meet their needs. Kids with personal space issues must feel their space invaded all day. Kids with not-so-great physical coordination must be bumping and bruising themselves against tightly-packed furniture. Kids with weaker immune systems must spend seven hours in tight quarters passing germs. Kids with a high need for organization and independence support lack the basic niceties taken for granted in other classes - a place for their belongings.
I have already written a letter to the principal, with copies to Mary Kearney, our director of Special Ed.
But for other Loudoun County parents of special ed students, I suggest you go into your children's classrooms to see if you think they - or their teachers - are being treated with the same respect and dignity accorded other kids in Loudoun County.
Don't get me wrong. I love Loudoun County Public Schools. But part of the reason I love them is I can see my tax dollars at work creating beautiful auditoriums, spacious and abundant libraries, fully stocked music rooms, state-of-the-art workout rooms and computer labs and gyms. My "normal" kids are enjoying the best when it comes to their education. I have only praise and gratitude when it comes to all they receive.
Unfortunately, the Special Ed classes take the back seat to all that's bestowed on the general population. They are usually relegated to a room that looks like a leftover or afterthought - with less square foot per child - an environment their peers in the general ed population can clearly see is inferior, thus reinforcing the subconscious message to other students, teachers and parents that these children are indeed worth less than their "normal" peers.
I will keep you posted on the progress in this situation.
But I also have a request:
I would very much like to see someone start a message board/discussion group for LCPS parents of kids with special needs. We all have so little time to spare and one of the ways we are defeated in advocating for our children is by our isolation and exhaustion. I for one am feeling very energized right now and eager to learn how to do a better job ensuring that my children's right to a free and appropriate public education is authentically met. Also eager to share what I am learning and to encourage other parents not to give up in their struggle to ensure their children receive the respect and dignity they deserve.
At the Wright's Law seminar I met a few other mothers from Loudoun County, and I also have met moms at a Down syndrome moms group that has started meeting monthly. I am attending the SEAC meetings held monthly at the school administration building and have joined the board of PEATC. I know there are other parents who have other pieces of the puzzle too.
We all need to band together to ensure that our children's needs are met and to turn around this juggernaut in Loudoun County which works to convince us that our children cannot be fully included - and then adds insult to injury by warehousing them in facilities/classrooms that are inferior to their peers'.
My thing is information-gathering, research, and communication. So I am asking someone with the technical savvy to come forward to start a message board for parents like us who are facing problems alone and need support. Please forward this to every Loudoun County parent of a special needs child you know. Please comment or email me and let's get this conversation started!
Posted in Disabilities, Inclusion, Loudoun County, Public schools | Permalink
Comments
I have a son who has Asperger Syndrome. The bus ride to school takes 2 hours but only a half hour on the way home. He is in a regular classroom but his teacher was trained to teach Asperger kids and taught a class specifically to that for 3 years prior to this year. My only concern is the 2 hour ride to school. My other son who is in a regular classroom, (this is a charter school), also rides with him. They have to get up at 6am every morning. I don't know how to feel about this. I do love his teacher though but he will only have her this year and next year. My other son has been picking up some pretty naughty behaviors and coming home with them. I am so close to homeschooling but I'm not a very good teacher myself. Do you have any advice for me? My son is the oldest of five but he is the only one with Aspergers.
Posted by: Virginia | October 28, 2007 1:42 AM
i am so honored to be included in this amazing post!
your experiences with your children has taught me so much while i am just beginning this amazing journey with my son...i confess i was most likely just like that mom i encountered even two three years ago.
i see your blogging your own (and your kids') encounters in the world of IEPs and special ed as educating all of us who have kids with special needs but also for the mainstream families. we all need to take a good long look at what the school is not doing (and doing) for ALL of our children and what we can do to make sure that all of our children's educational needs are met if we choose the public school route and what we can do to encourage our children to see all of their peers through Jesus' eyes.
the biggest lesson we learned this past week under the Big Top is different is indeed special but it is so great that we are all created to be different.
barbara, you inspire me and encourage me.
thank you!
Posted by: laura | October 28, 2007 1:43 AM
This is a great post and a problem faced by many of us with special needs kids. My son has autism and we were so pleased when his private school moved to a new location - only to find out that the teachers had the entire upper floor where most of the rooms/windows were and the students ended up in the basement.
As one result of this, we've started a new site where parents can share great sites like this, and also start groups like the Loudoun school group. www.foggyrock.com is the site. Please share and use.
Posted by: steve johnson | October 28, 2007 10:25 AM
My son is in his second year of a self-contained classroom. It is excellent, and very well done, IMO, at our school. In fact, I got disgusted with the PS last year and am homeschooling my other children, but left my oldest son in the program. My son is bussed to a school that is not our "home" school (but is still in our district).
I would be happy to describe the program, and why I think it is working, if you are interested in a perspective on a successful self-contained classroom.
Posted by: Milehimama | October 29, 2007 1:47 PM
Aren't IEPs legally binding documents that the school has to follow? If the school is not doing what they promised as far as space goes, do you have legal recourse?
(I realize that legal action is probably not the desirable thing, but a threat of it may the necessary to get the school's attention.)
Posted by: Diana | November 3, 2007 1:27 PM
