This is not something new, and parents of special kids can definitely relate to this fact. Their children with special needs have all the ability to complete graduation just like other peers but more than often they are not.
Here’s an example of a teenager with special needs who had multiple disabilities including bipolar disorder and dyslexia. He used to have a lot of trouble being attentive in class or taking directions. The IQ test score revealed an upper average range of 115. Apparently, his classmates graduated and he too could have but rather than 4 years he took 6 years to do so because after high-school he got in odd jobs for many years. While experts from the area have been saying that 90% of the students with special needs are capable of graduating, there are many reasons that do not allow them to do so.
An interview with almost 100 people, 50 parents and 50 experts from different walks of life brought to light that there have been systematic problems that have led to students not able to graduate. Here’s a run through few issues students have been facing at school and around –
- Fund Issues – Inadequacy of funds leads to inadequacy in facilities needed for special needs students. Schools aren’t able to provide appropriate help to these students.
- Low Expectations – Often parents and teachers expect too less from special needs students and this actually hampers their progress and maybe to an extent even self-confidence.
- Wrong Decisions – Many a times mis-judgement of the abilities of students with special needs and pushing them into alternate diploma programs.
- Training Issues – Many times students are not trained or taught the skills of communication and organization that they need to adapt with the college level and real world.
- Ignorance – Sometimes parents aren’t aware of the rights of special children and are not willing to go in for long battles with schools for them.
A special education advocate in the USA described how in the middle school years she was told that she would never be able to reach college level in the 1990’s due to her disability of reading comprehension in elementary school. Instead of helping her through reading comprehension, her high school put her into remedial courses in English and Maths. But, due to her mindfulness of her parents, who hired a tutor to help her, she could complete her graduation at school and even went on to complete her graduation at the California University, San Diego.
Well, the fact of the matter is that parents and school need to understand that even if their children have multiple disabilities they can grow up to complete their education with the support of the school and them.
