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Expecting excellence from schools for our special needs children–an endless job for parent advocates

We are in day 4 of the new school year and Quincy’s move to high school has gone about as well as can be expected. Her high school is a very big place, with nearly 2400 students but built for roughly 1700.  Even after being a high school teacher for 8 years, I would be lying if I didn’t admit that it’s a little intimidating being in the halls during passing.  But kids are kids and, for the most part,  everyone is respectful and nice.  Long ago, as a teacher, I used to be mistaken for a student…I notice that doesn’t happen anymore.  My years as a parent have left me with the start of some well-earned lines on my face that definitely tell the world I am no longer a kid.

I have been lucky enough to have Quincy’s aide from last year be with her this week to do training with her new team.  This is working fairly well.  Next week will be more stressful than this week because Q’s transition support network will be finished and she will be on her own with her new teacher and aides. 

I miss the happy, fuzzy place that is elementary school.  The high school intensive special needs classroom setting is pretty clinical.   The other students in Q’s class appear to be more physically and medically fragile than her.  This is a change for me.  I am used to Quincy being the biggest challenge in the room and now I find her in a room full of kids with challenges even greater than hers.  It’s probably good for her to be with classmates she can relate to but it makes the classroom seem more of a care facility than a learning environment.  This is not meant to be critical of anyone, but  an honest reflection on the difference from one program to another. 

I hope over the course of the school year the room gets cheerier, brighter, noisier and full of a lot more laughter.  Right now it is a rather serious, quiet space.  But, again, this is only day 4 and people are still just settling in to their positions and getting organized.

To be honest, I don’t like sending Q to school much.  I wish I were independently wealthy.  I would bring specialists, therapists, artists and musicians to my home.  I would have them spend one-on-one time making her day a rich, happy, enlightening experience.  Maybe I should buy a Powerball ticket.  Oh yeah…no lottery in Alaska.  Darn!!!  Guess I’d better just put on my parent advocate hat and keep pushing my local schools to expand their vision and strive for excellence with their special needs students.

Tags: special education transition

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