Becoming a Special Needs Advocate: Blaming the Victim

Monday, October 11, 2010

Blaming the Victim

A recent article in the Special Ed Examiner

refers to a case I have known about for some time. Sadly, this hasn't raised the hackles of citizens everywhere! You must read the story of a teen with Cerebral Palsy who was molested by school district staff, an aide in her classroom who has continued to be in the classroom after parent complaints and even after this situation in which another aide reported seeing the man lifting the girls shirt and undershirt up to her neck in order do ogle her breasts. We don't know if more would have happened or did happen on other occasions but he has stayed in the classroom. The district has chosen to defend his actions by filing a suit against the parents for allowing her to go to school where they put her in danger. How is this when we must send our children to school or face jail time ourselves for allowing them or encouraging them to be truant? This is just proof of how insane the system has become, at least in one school district. And I have to wonder, is it because the child has a disability that we don't see a community up in arms and getting rid of the superintendent and school board that is mounting such a heinous defense for their inaction? I would hope that no child would be allowed to endure this kind of humiliation yet one of the children most needing of our protection continues to be assaulted, only this time in the courts.

1 comment:

California ProgressiveOctober 16, 2010 at 9:01 PM
The same goes on in the special ed world or the special needs world I should say. Most don't do anything or lift a finger for any kids beyond their own. It's unusual to find people who care about all the kids and want protect them all.
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

ADVOCATE ad·vo·cate

–verb (used with object)

to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly: He advocated higher salaries for teachers.

–noun

a person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person, cause, etc. (usually fol. by of ): an advocate of peace.

a person who pleads for or in behalf of another; intercessor.

a person who pleads the cause of another in a court of law.

MISSION STATEMENT

It is my hope that this blog will serve as a help to other parents along side me in this world of "SPED" (Special Eduction). I hope that the stories I share about the insight I have gained and the pitfalls I have encountered will help others on this journey. I don't know it all, hardly, I'm still learning the ropes, but every time I go to another meeting or finish another phone call I hope to have gleaned something that will help me or others in the next step.

There are so many little secrets that if we share them, will no longer be secrets, and will enable us to advocate for our children more effectively. Every child deserves to be educated and this can only happen if we are diligent and do what we can to make that happen. There are some really good districts that do the best they can for the kids, but there are far too many districts out here that believe it is their job to save money --- at the expense of teaching young people what they can and need to learn to lead productive, and meaningful lives.