Changing The Trajectory Of Graduation
School is ending for the summer soon, and classes across the nation are graduating! What a wonderful time for families and friends to celebrate the hard work and energies spent by these young people preparing to begin a new season in their life!
Our family has three grandchildren graduating this year; and I am going to celebrate with many of my other classmates, our 50th class reunion, in just another two weeks! It doesn’t seem possible that so many years have passed…or that so many of our classmates have stayed in touch all this time!
Graduation Rates Are Climbing — For Some
Statistics show that graduation rates are climbing in the U.S. That’s a good thing! Still for all the celebratory activities going on, there are those who have done their best to achieve the accolades of a graduation diploma, but fall short.
All Children Can Learn
Those with disabilities, have barriers set, that reach beyond their abilities. First and foremost, all children can learn. Some learn differently or more slowly than their peers. That’s fine. It’s no different than the child who is labeled a ‘genius’. He too, learns differently than his peers. But data also shows that most students who have a disability are capable of graduating with their peers. However, most do not.
Is The Education System Failing Disability Students?
There are strong indicators that our education system is failing disability students. It undoubtedly isn’t deliberate, but it still remains. Some parents even believe, given the current state of affairs, their child’s education in ‘special services’ was a waste. Others believe their schools don’t give their students the credit they deserve; and that their child is capable of far more than the school authorities expect.
Mainstreaming Helps Success
There are ways to circumvent the educational status of disability students, lack of graduating statistics. There are great indicators of success, when a child with disabilities is mainstreamed into a classroom. Sadly, however, many teachers are not trained to help these children succeed.
Raise Expectations
Many believe expectations need to be raised. Depending on the severity of the disability, these children need to be challenged to the best of their abilities! They still may not learn as quickly or clearly as their peers, but when they are challenged, the bar is raised, and have a chance of increasing their success.
Capitalize On Their Strengths
Support teams and efforts to capitalize on the strengths of the child with disabilities, is also a consideration. As the teams work with students, identify their strengths and refine progress data, forward progress continues. Each student is different and understanding their needs and customizing their program will enhance growth.
Change Mindsets
Changing mindsets regarding equity for school educators, parents and students, is also a critical indicator of progress. Parents need to be involved with the educational process regarding their children. It should be a joint effort with trained teachers and administrators to assure their child receives the best education possible, given what the disability might be. Being knowledgeable and knowing how the system works, even as a student, can aid movement toward graduation.
There are many more ideas and thoughts regarding this issue. Our special needs children deserve the honor of graduating just as much as their peers. They should not believe giving up is the best option; because they ‘can’t’ get it. They can! We need to believe in them, even if they don’t believe in themselves!
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#celebrateEducation #celebrateLearning #LearningIsForEveryone #changeMindset #PrepareTeachers #DisabilityStudentsLearn
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