Post by @youreducationadvo

Every time I post about disability rights, accommodations, or inclusion, someone decides to tell on themselves in the comments. This week, it was “John Michael.” On a post about students who need movement to regulate their nervous system, he proudly shared that he had a student whose IEPlaccommodation allowed them to bounce a ball to help them regulate. According to him, the accommodation worked for that student. His response? Not, “How can we make this less distracting for everyone?” Not, “Let’s problem solve.” Not, “I wonder if there is another way to meet this student’s needs.” Instead, he made it his mission to get that student removed from his classroom. He bragged that he told other parents about the ball bouncing and discussed the student’s IEP. If that happened as described, it raises serious concerns about protecting the student’s educational records and confidentiality. Schools have legal obligations to safeguard personally identifiable information contained in education records. He also boasted that his principal supported him because they were “old school” and that parents in his wealthy neighborhood wanted students with disabilities removed from general education. Think about that. A child had an accommodation that was helping them access their education. Instead of asking: “Could we try a foam ball?” “Could we use a small foam mat to reduce the noise?” “Could the student take brief movement breaks?” “Can the team explore additional regulation strategies while continuing to honor the IEP?” The solution became: “Get rid of the child.” That is exactly why parents need advocates. Accommodations are not supposed to exist only when they are convenient for adults. IDEA requires schools to provide a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, and IEP teams should work together to determine how supports can be implemented effectively. If an accommodation is creating an unexpected challenge, the answer is to reconvene the team and problem solve, not target the student for removal. There were dozens of inclusive solutions available before excluding a child. So, to every educator reading this: Don’t be a John Michael. #fape #specialeducation #504plan #advocate #advocate