Special Education Law Blog

Real Inclusion A Result of School Leadership

At a High School prom in Southern California , an openly homosexual senior was voted prom king and his prom queen was a senior girl who has Downs syndrome and a condition that causes baldness. [For another view of prom click here.] Both students  have been very popular with their peers over the years.  The school has actively cultivated an enviroment of mutual understanding and has embraced diversity in more than just mere words.  Inclusion can work with the leadership of staff and adminstration and a commitment of resources. Nice to be able to report on meaningful success.

Teacher Challenging Law Barring Sex with Students

A teacher in Connecticut is challenging the law prohibiting sexual relations with students who have reached the age of 16, the legal age for sexual consent in that state. His claim is based upon a right to sexual privacy.  Somethings to do not require explanation; sex between  a student and a teacher at the grade school or high school level is just wrong, and ought to be illegal.

Bartol Apologizes to Staff

Kevin Bartol apologized to staff at the Baraboo School district, but even in his moment of contrition he still did not take responsibility for the ugliness and wrongness of his  statements toward families and children with special needs. Here is his apology with some additonal news coverage from the school district administration:

"It was my attempt to get clarification of some wordage in one of the school policies. I should have chosen my words more carefully to adequately convey my true attempt. I inadvertently created a very ugly situation. For this, and for the inconvenience, I am truly sorry. My intent was to clarify and not to attack the hard work and wonderful actions of our special education department. I am 100 percent behind them. I ask that the good people in the Baraboo School District accept my apology." he said in a statement to the News Republic.
Earlier in the day, School Board leaders and District Administrator Lance Alwin said they gave Bartol two days (from Tuesday) to apologize for remarks they termed insensitive and inappropriate, but he did not. Alwin said he advised Bartol to include an apology in a press release the district issued Thursday, but Bartol declined.
"I can't put words of apology in his mouth," Alwin said."

I still prefer Liz Ditz's version of an apology better.

Signficant Court Victory for Child With Autism

Federal Court Judge Robert Payne of Richmond, Virginia ruled in favor of the parents in a 4 year struggle on behalf of their child with autism. The parents brought due process to seek reimbursement for their unilateral placement in a private school that specializes in teaching children with autism. The private school had the needed expertise and more importantly intensity to teach this child. The progress between the public school program and the private school program was profound. The case in full can be accessed by clicking here.

Kevin Bartol Here are Some Words of Apology

Thanks to the creativity of Liz Ditz who writes the blog I Speak of Dreams, the following is a suggested public apology for Kevin Bartol. Now if he would only be smart enough to actually adopt her statement,  he can then rejoin the ranks of thinking  people everywhere.

To the parents and students in Baraboo and other districts around the
nation:

I was elected to the Baraboo school board, but I didn't study for the
job.  I was shamefully ignorant of federal legislation under the
Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation act of 1973.  I didn't even try to learn about the
realities some of the students in my district face, those with mental
and physical disabilities that hinder their ability to learn.

Students, when you don't study for a test, your ignorance only hurts
you.  My  failure to study  hurt a lot of people.  I am truly sorry.  I
will try to master the law, and I will try to understand the challenges
facing students with mental and physical disabilities.  I know my job
is to make decisions that affect all students in the Baraboo district,
and I pledge to understand the opportunities and constraints the
district faces.

Sincerely,

Kevin Bartol

ESY Help

The blogsite Dr. Chris' Autism Journal has some useful information on ESY and summer programming. While it is geared towards children with autism, there is useful information for other families of  children with special needs.

Ignorance is No Defense

A school board member, Kevin Bartol,  in Baraboo, Wisconsin, publicly questioned why public schools are open to  students who are  not"educable." Those students who are not educable should be sent to a place known as "elsewhere."  Dr. Bartol, who is also a chiropractor, was quoted as stating that some students       " may have their eyes open, but there's no one awake upstairs."  Even when given an opportunity to retract or to clarify his statement Dr. Bartol refused to back off this unqualified ugly ill-informed stupidity.

Autism and Heavy Metals

A new study confirms earlier reports of the linkage between heavy metals and autism.  According to this report, a large of number of cases of autism are linked to high levels of heavy metals. This report does not discuss the source of the heavy metals, but there is a body of data that demonstrates that mercury (a heavy metal) from vaccines are a source. 

Teachers Sexually Abusing Students

A recent news report from Ohio shows that over a 5 year period 100 teachers have been accused of having sexually abused their students. Click here for details.

The IEP Game

This time of year the anxiety and stress level is simply off the Richter scale. Fortunately, Terri Mauro has brought some fun to this overwise not funny time of year.  Click here for the IEP game; it is great fun. Thank you Terri.