DISABILITY IS NATURAL!
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In general, each of us must live with the consequences of our actions. But Brad’s parents won’t suffer the consequences of their actions, Brad will. Similarly, Dylan will reap the benefits of his parents’ actions!
Kathie Snow
A Tale of Two Students
Like other 18-year-olds, Dylan enjoyed all the hoopla reserved for high school seniors: the prom, senior “skip day,” and the once-in-a-lifetime graduation ceremony. Unlike the majority of his graduation class, Dylan has Down syndrome, he’s learned academics “his way” (in general ed classrooms) via a variety of curriculum modifications, and instead of a diploma, he received a “certificate of attendance.” Despite these differences, Dylan—like many of his classmates—will have a summer job and will enroll in a university or community college in the fall . . .
Contrast Dylan’s experiences with the life of another student with a disability in this same high school. Brad has been a “visitor” in a few general ed classrooms through the years, but most of his school career has been spent in segregated special ed classrooms . . .
Why such a difference in the lives of these two students? Both have significant disabilities and both attended the same high school at the same time. Click here to continue.
NOTE: This article also includes a sidebar that critiques "special" college programs for students with disabilities.