Failing children with disability, sadly, nothing new

Dear David

I am very saddened to hear, which is not uncommon, of the continued abuse of students with a disability in education. I have a 28yr old son with Asperger’s Syndrome and Intellectual Disability and he has grown into a bright young man who is a valuable, contributing member of a small community on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

I was fortunate enough to place my son into some really educational facilities varying from early intervention, special school to special education units within state schools and worked really hard with the staff and the school to provide him with the education HE needed.

I don’t ever remember ever having this problem with Ryan probably because I was very heavily involved with implementing strategies to assist teachers’ and work WITH them to achieve positive outcomes.

I do agree with you that teachers are ‘keeping quiet’ in order to get jobs but what about the school? Surely they know when students requires further assistance. It’s definitely not good enough that educators are simply ‘passing the buck’. ALL students have the right to an education to ensure they achieve and succeed to the best of their ability.

I have worked in a special school as a Teacher Aide, with an employment group integrating students with a disability to transition to employment and now I am a secondary teacher in a Catholic school. Do you know what I love most about all of these roles? I am able to make a difference to the lives of all my students, to help them achieve their very best, to understand how they learn, to help them become fine young valuable citizens and hopefully they remember that I truly believe in each and every one of them (despite any disabilities. As you know, it’s not about what you can’t do it’s about WHAT YOU CAN!

I read stories, watch the T.V, hear people all discussing about what the answer is for students with a disability. Well, how about the gift we have been given (as either parents, educators, community leaders) to work with these people and help make their lives as happy, fruitful, engaging and successful as our own.

Thanks for your invitation to share my thought.

Yours sincerely

Suzanne O’Connor