Advocacy for the Disabled

It was a busy week.  It was a trying week.  How can I save the world if people (my family) want me to cook, clean, teach and love them?

The Steel Valley District, Park Elementary School teachers were caught being bullies.  I was dismayed by this story that started with denial of a student, 10 year old Kaitlin Montgomery who has Autism, chronic lung disease and pulmonary hypertension, which makes it difficult for her to climb stairs or walk any distance.  She needed to use the Faculty bathroom on the ground floor where her classes were, because there wasn't a student bathroom on that floor near her special education classes.

Eighteen teachers, two of them being "Special Needs" teachers, filed a grievance with their Union to make this disabled child use another bathroom on another floor.  Really.  Not only was it disturbing, but it was utter bullying.  These capable teachers have a total of three faculty rooms in this building.  

After this came to light through the media, let's say it, all hell broke loose.  The Montgomery family found out Thursday morning that there was a board meeting on this, that evening.  None.  Not one of those eighteen teachers showed their cowardly faces at the meeting...hmmmmmmmm.  Of course the teachers lost.  The very humorous part is when the representative of the teachers tried to imply they were trying to get a resolution.  Association President Shawn McCallister defended the grievance saying "Our teachers are not fighting an accomodation for a special needs student, rather, our teachers at Park Elementary School are seeking a solution to an issue that will provide a better outcome for all parties involved."  I call horse crap.  

Truth?  They were put out that they would have to use a Faculty Room upstairs.  They felt entitled and put out.  The part that is the most disturbing is the fact that two of these teachers were SPECIAL NEEDS TEACHERS!  If they were trying to come to a solution, how about standing with the family at a board meeting, saying we need a better plan for this child...what can we do to help this situation?  Instead it was the family vs. the teachers.  I am appalled.  I wouldn't want the Special Needs teachers near my child with Down Syndrome.  The very cruelty.  Not advocating for this disabled child.

Today, another story came to light.  This story is about Michael Kelly who has Down Syndrome and Autism.  He is a high school student who plays Wichita East's Special Needs basketball team, in Kansas.  His mother bought Michael a letter jacket and a varsity letter to show his participation.  When he wore the jacket to school, he was forced to remove it and wear a sweatshirt instead.

The school Principal, Ken Thiessen said it was because Michael isn't actually on the varsity team.  "Teachers told parents they would prefer he not wear the letter on his jacket."  Principal Thiessen said he would not allow Special Needs teams to have letters.  "We have considered it, and our decision was no.  We decided that it is not appropriate in our situation because it is not a varsity level competition."  Really.

This story is also disturbing because this is the PRINCIPAL!  Couldn't he have solved the problem by maybe having a ceremony for the Special Needs kids to receive a special letter and award for working so hard to achieve what they did?  We are so quick to push these kids out of the way because of our perfect world?  Come on?  What lesson did you just teach your students?  Discrimination.  That these kids are less.  Where this could have been a lesson in compassion and caring.

What was brought to my attention is that these "grown ups" are the problem.  So many stories I read about students voting a disabled person as prom king or queen.  How about the story of the basketball players that defended the cheerleader with Down Syndrome against bullies in the stands?  Who are the good examples?  The students.


I guess I know where my future lies...fighting for the less fortunate.  Always have, always will.