Should My Wordless Kid Go to School with Your Normal Child?
If a school system believes that any child with special needs doesn’t belong in school or treats his/her education merely as free babysitting, then that school system is failing its community.
A free and appropriate public education is not limited to the 3Rs. Not every child is on a college or high school diploma track– that doesn’t mean that he/she is undeserving of an education.
The development of social and communications skills is essential across the spectrum of abilities, as is the preparation for participation in the community– development of these skills is the goal of all curriculum, regardless of ability. For some students that means preparation for college for others it’s the development of life skills.
The child with special needs may develop skills more slowly and his/her proficiency may not be what some deem as worthy, but those skills are nonetheless essential to the child and his/her family and community. Cognitive abilities and academic proficiency are not the measure of a human being, his/her worth as a human being or his/her contribution to society.
