Education is the Best Cure
This entry is posted in honor of Blogging Against Disablism Day, and in honor of Charlie having yet another great day at school.
The Autism Education Network was founded by autism parent Michelle Waterman whose son John is four years old.
I remember well the confusion I felt when Charlie was four years old going on five. It had become increasingly clear that Charlie would need to be in a self-contained autism classroom and would not attend kindergarten. Ms. Waterman notes her family’s current challenges in obtaining an education for John:
Our challenge right now is negotiating a free, appropriate, public education for John. As of John’s third birthday, (5/9/03), we are paying for John’s entire education plan, ($46,000 per year) as we disagree with our school district’s IEP offer. Subsequently, we hired a special education attorney, and filed a request for a due process hearing. Unfortunately, our story is not unique. Every family that we have met thus far has a similar story and understands our frustration, heartache, and desperation.
Our family’s story is very, very similar.
Ms. Waterman and her family live in Santa Clara County in California, far away from where we live in northern New Jersey. Our goals in educating our autistic children are the same—here is the mission of the Autism Education Network:
The Autism Education Network’s mission is to improve public special education programs and to influence public policy that affects individuals with autism. We use new technology and the Internet to connect and empower people in order to affect change.
We provide free information about special education rights and programs and our outreach efforts include seminars about special education law and conferences regarding best practices in autism treatment and methodologies.
The Autism Education Network’s website also notes that “until we find the cure education is our best hope.” I would rather say that education is the cure, not as a “cure for autism,” but as the means for helping our children reach their full potential. We strive to give Charlie the best education not so that “he will no longer have autism” or “no longer be disabled,” but because Charlie is an almost-nine-year old schoolboy who loves learning and who is more than ready, willing, and able to learn.
What we need are the resources to create the best possible education for all autistic children.
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POSTED IN: Autism Organizations, Disability Rights, Education, Legislation
4 opinions for Education is the Best Cure
Wade Rankin
May 1, 2006 at 5:16 pm
Even those of us who seek a “cure” (a loaded term that can mean different things to different people) believe that an education tailored to our children’s abilities and disabilities is not an option. Unfortunately, your story is not unique at all. In the middle of one of the countless meetings we have been in, one of the so-called experts told us “you know, you can’t expect us to cure your son.” My response was “No, but we can expect you to make an education possible for our son.” Unfortunately, most school systems are completely unprepared for the number of autistic children that have come into the system.
Kristina Chew, PhD
May 1, 2006 at 5:43 pm
I think it is every parent’s story, though our district has never said a word about “cure”—indeed, I would go so far as to say our district has started to send kids who have needs like Charlie’s out, for better (if you know the school is good) and for worse.
ebohlman
May 2, 2006 at 7:51 am
Our family’s stories is very, very similar.
I didn’t realize George W. Bush had editing privileges here…
Kristina Chew, PhD
May 2, 2006 at 8:24 am
So much for my education!
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