December
2000 Newsletter
Corvallis
PDD/Autism Support Group
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December
2000 Newsletter |
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Seasons Greetings one and all! I am amazed as I watch recent events taking place locally and around our state. Since the FALL, there has been new interest in the plight of disabled people in Oregon. This is especially true regarding people with A.S.D. (Autism Spectrum Disorders). As mentioned in earlier newsletters, some lawmakers in Salem are very interested in how our children get educated and receive services (see http://dhonline.com/2000/dhonline_news_0926/headline/dhheadline-03.html). It is against this background that I ponder how this will really affect our kids. One situation I am watching closely (as well as many others) is the lawsuit brought by 2 families in our support group. (see http://dhonline.com/2000/dhonline_news_0926/headline/dhheadline-03.html). This case is bringing to light how our kids are being treated in school. "Time Out Boxes" are not just an Albany phenomenon- they happen in Corvallis too! In fact, because this issue has finally come to public scrutiny, I have heard of similar boxes being used in other parts of Oregon. This should not be. This medieval barbaric treatment of children (whether they be disabled of not) reveals how ignorant the school system is regarding children with disabilities. This case also sheds light on an educational system which contains no system of accountability. As I understand it, neither the teachers involved, nor the Albany Special Ed Director, nor Oregon's Department of Special Ed have been fired, fined, or even reprimanded! It is my understanding there is not even a report made in the files of those involved. This case will set precedent in Oregon and likely/hopefully lead to a systematic change. What is also interesting is, thanks to the media coverage, the public is responding. I've talked to many people (whose children are often typically developing) who are not only horrified that this went on for years, but- and I believe equally important- they assumed our kids were being taken care of. Conversations like these open doors previously shut to you and I. We now are being asked about our kids and, as they should be, when we share our stories- people are floored! PEOPLE TRULY HAD NO IDEA WHAT OUR KIDS HAVE GONE THROUGH. This shows me that Oregon's Special Ed System is- if not a secret- at the very least a misunderstood and unspoken subject. In Oct., there was a rally held on the Capitol steps in Salem (see http://news.statesmanjournal.com/single_article.cfm?i=15035). The purpose was bring to the public's attention how bad the Oregon Department of Education- especially Special Ed- has become. Those in attendance wanted lawmakers to comprehend that the system is broken. The organizers of the rally were some families from Portland (many with Autistic children). They were calling for the resignation of key people in Special Ed- namely the director Steve Johnson. Like many in the Oregon Department of Ed, Mr. Johnson not only remains perplexed at why families are so unhappy, but has no intention of stepping down. The organization who created the rally is called END THE SILENCE. This refers to the silence which has surrounded Special Education in our state for years. They continue to hold protest rallies- mostly in the Portland area. They have also made available to families bumper stickers and buttons and ask that families join them. I myself wear a END THE SILENCE button on my coat which has sparked numerous of interesting conversations. You know me, whenever I have an opportunity to speak out- I will. I feel a responsibility to educate the public- even if it is one person at a time. Without fail, I have experienced 100% support from sincere, albeit unknowing, people inquiring into what Special Ed is, why in my opinion is it not working and ultimately families' stories. To a person, they want to understand and want me to convey their support to what we are under taking. Make no mistake, what is being called for is HUGE! We are asking as individuals and as grass-roots organizations to change the system. Every chance I get, I try not only to explain the big picture, but to focus on how children with Autism- in my opinion- are especially singled out more so than any other disability because this is invisible medical disorder. More important than the public wanted to understand the issue, lawmakers are wanting to know what the issues are and why we are so unhappy. It is up to each one of us to speak out. Please, contact your lawmaker and lend your support to this most important cause. One of the lawmakers very much interested in our children's plight is Senator Gary George from Newberg. He has formed a WORKING COMMITTEE to look into the larger picture: the School System in Oregon; especially Special Ed. Committee members include: Sara Gelser, Anne Brown, Keith Miller, Linda Mazur, Seth Alford, Theresea van Winkle, Marjorie Taylor, Craig Allen, John Lehmann, Steve Johnson, Richard Lucetti, Dale Lucht, and Doug Koski. As I understand it, this committee has a short period of time to identify the problems, outline the strengths and weaknesses of the present system and make recommendations. From that point on, this information will result into further investigation. In the meanwhile, families are URGED to contact him to share your stories and more importantly call for changing the system. Lawmakers need to create a new system whose foundation is based on a collaboration model (a radical and unheard concept presently here in Oregon). Oregon needs to adopt such a collaborative model from states like MASS. CONN. Vermont where such a model works successfully. And, within this model, there needs to be created a system of accountability; at ALL levels- local as well as state as well as being accountable at the federal level. It must be a system which does not create its own definition of Autism. Rather, Oregon must use IDEA's definition which is broader so as to embrace the medical component. This new system MUST abolish the distinction between a MEDICAL VS. EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSIS definition (and thus Special Ed eligibility criteria) of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Children who are medically diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder MUST receive Special Ed eligibility. This new system must embrace families (as stated in IDEA) that they are experts on their disabled child. The new system must offer families options as to what works best for your child. It is not up to educators to make these decisions; especially at the exclusion of families. This new system must provide our children with authentic "AUTISM SPECIALISTS" TRAINED AND CERTIFIED by those who know Autism best- the experts in the field! These Autism Services provided must also be HANDS ON services. Currently, the national average is about 3-5 hours per school WEEK and our children are not even receiving that much. It is my hope
that the above described new system will no longer remain a dream, but
a reality for our Each one of us
can make this dream a reality by contacting lawmakers and share with
the public what is Until the next newsletter, that is what is happening. Let me know what is going on with you. Happy Holidays! MaryJo Weaver
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