Outraged! This is what special needs parents are subjected to
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
As a parent of a child with special needs (autism), i find that most "normal" people usually don't have a clue as to what parents of special needs kids go through and put up with on a day-to-day basis and are, most times, very rude. I am not talking about what our children put us through, (they can not help the way they are), but the ridicule and discrimination that we put up with everyday from society. I really hate it when people comment on things/subjects/issues and they have no idea and are ignorant to the challenges other people may face. As far as schools are concerned, if a person chooses to take on a position as a special needs teacher, then they need to know exactly what they are getting into and have compassion and patience for any child whatever their need/needs may be, if not then don't be in that position. May God bless all good teachers in general, but especially those who choose to care for and help to try to educate children with special needs.
As a mother of an adult son with Down syndrome (note: either Down or Down's syndrome is appropriate), it never gets better. My son is 24 years old and I just pulled him out of a day center and he is staying at home full-time. We fought the schools in the early years for him to be in regular classrooms and always lost. Fought the time-out rooms, being strapped in a chair without our knowledge, etc. When he was older, it had changed and they were demanding he be in the regular classroom, functioning at a pre-school level and they wanted him to sit in on regular ed classes and color - he hated it! Wouldn't you? The day center was a continuing disaster and although we have a grievance going through the system, it will do no good. Despite how far rights for people with disabilities has supposedly come that is dependent on many factors: the extent of the disability, the intelligence or lack of it of the people you have to deal with in the system, where you are located, etc. It is cheaper to put the special education students in the regular classrooms with an untrained aide who "instructs" them with the special educator acting as an adviser on the program. I have seen the system in 4 states and even the ones that were supposed to be good told me that in the case of my son who is low functioning, that the good programs I had heard about would not apply to him - they were in a "special" classroom. You just have no idea how much the system really sucks and how the groups that are supposed to be there to help you really thought you would never ask for their help. You just have no idea. So, if you think that once your child is an adult that you'll finally get a break, think again because the real world isn't pretty.
<snip>
You just have no idea how much the system really sucks and how the groups that are supposed to be there to help you really thought you would never ask for their help. You just have no idea. So, if you think that once your child is an adult that you'll finally get a break, think again because the real world isn't pretty.
I'll second that At least the school system makes some meager attempts to at least appear to be helping. Out in the workforce, the ADA only seems to apply to physical disabilities for most businesses, Lord help you if you "only" have a neurological or developmental disorder... and getting SSI or SSDI for these conditions from Social Security, or any disability aid from the State, can be an extreme nightmare.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
At least the school system makes some meager attempts to at least appear to be helping. Out in the workforce, the ADA only seems to apply to physical disabilities for most businesses, Lord help you if you "only" have a neurological or developmental disorder... and getting SSI or SSDI for these conditions from Social Security, or any disability aid from the State, can be an extreme nightmare.
