Inclusive Education Video: A UN Global Event

 Now happening LIVE from the United Nations, and available later for viewing: (PREMIERE) Inclusive Quality Education for All - World Autism Awareness Day

 * UN Web TV: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1p/k1pgh88oqn

 * Facebook link:  https://www.facebook.com/UNWebTV/videos/561654072063158

 * YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/9xqT5gnwSw8

This is near and dear to me because I have fought for this for my son with two public school districts, pretty much since he was diagnosed. Some years were fantastic, and the best that full inclusion in a public education setting can be. Most years were not.

From Kindergarten to Fourth Grade, my son was in full inclusion in a public school, with a 1:1 aide. I was able to be a classroom assistant, so it was a real group/community effort.

In those years, everyone knew him. When I was on school grounds, and even around town, I would constantly hear "Hi, James!" and spot kids and adults waving in a friendly manner. He had access to and modeled behaviours of his peers. His communication skills improved. Almost as importantly, the kids saw James as one of them. In third grade, they were compete for a chance to be allowed to "help James" with a lesson, and his aide facilitated group games of catch on the playground during recess. These classmates were learning empathy and how to work with and accept those who are differently abled. This is huge for our future to work together in the world.

Watching this video is important because public education in the United States has been under attack for many many decades. They are the first state organization to have their budgets cut when states are reducing costs, teachers are not respective or compensated as they should be (and are in other countries), and schools are increasingly being made to be to safety net for families under attack, by providing safe places for homeless students, food and sometimes clothing for families who cannot afford to keep up with rising costs and low salaries, and hostile parent groups (and sometimes the US Secretary of Education) who are using religion and politics to undermine education in a free society.

This is a call to form a better future for inclusive education, which I see as better education for us all.

I encourage everyone seeing this to share and discuss.

Fighting to Protect Endangered IDEA

What Is IDEA?

From Wikipedia: "The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a four-part (A-D) piece of American legislation that ensures students with a disability are provided with Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that is tailored to their individual needs. IDEA was previously known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) from 1975 to 1990. In 1990, the United States Congress reauthorized EHA and changed the title to IDEA (Public Law No. 94-142). Overall, the goal of IDEA is to provide children with disabilities the same opportunity for education as those students who do not have a disability."

What's Happening with IDEA?

The promised 40% funding from Congress has not delivered, and decreases as levels stay stagnant (or are cut) and the need for services covered under IDEA skyrocket in public schools. I have seen the struggle to retain and train qualified educators and paraeducators in our local public school districts. It's become harder after fire destroyed a significant chunk of housing and increased cost of living in our area.

Our current head of education, Betsy DeVos, has been consistently trying to weaken or defund IDEA ever since she took office. Not only is she grossly unqualified to make decisions about education due to a lack of experience with the public, schools, and education, she doesn't care about the kids in public schools - especially the costly ones with special needs. She pushes charter schools, which may sound like a good idea at first but upon closer inspection basically shifts any responsibility for enforcement of IDEA off the shoulders of the federal government and leaves you at the mercy of people trying to make money off education. It's sneaky, and a huge leap backwards, widening the cracks our kids fall into between supports and services into something more like the Grand Canyon.

What can I do?

Contact your representatives in Congress and urge them to fund and protect IDEA. Show you understand it and that you consider it's enactment important for you and your community.

In March 2018 a Bill was introduced to increase funding and support for IDEA, S.2542 IDEA Full Funding Law. It has been referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (that's Betsy DeVos, incase you were wondering). In March 2019 an amendment bill to the IDEA Act introduced, S. 866 IDEA Full Funding Act. Write and urge your representatives to support these bills.

Not sure who is your Congressional rep? Here's a website to locate your congressional representatives.

Why is IDEA Important?

• Programs that benefit all students are likely to be cut.  Each year that Congress fails to meet its 40% promise, districts are forced to pay a higher proportion of the special education cost. Schools and districts have been facing budget cuts for years and there is a scarcity of resources in many of our nation’s schools.  As a result, districts are forced to make hard decisions about which programs to fund. Schools and districts are sometimes forced to divert funds from programs that serve all students (including students with disabilities) into IDEA. This should not be a choice schools and districts are forced to make.
   
• It becomes harder to recruit and retain qualified teachers.  Over time, as districts are forced to put more funds into IDEA, they are unable to use those funds to increase teacher salary, decrease class size, or update classroom resources. The continual funding crisis makes it hard for schools to invest in the types of activities that will bring in and retain the best teachers.
    
• Our schools cannot thrive until students with disabilities succeed.  It has long been proven that including students with disabilities in our general education classrooms benefits all students — those with and without disabilities. When schools focus on the success of students with disabilities, the school as a whole thrives. Until they have the resources they need from the federal government to fully fund IDEA, schools will continue to struggle to provide the comprehensive and high-quality services that students with disabilities deserve.

(from National Center for Learning Disabilities)

Call to Advocacy

Today in Sacramento a rally will be held at the Capitol for the purpose of highlighting the need for continued support of the Lanternman Act and a call to action for State Legislators to sign a letter that request $290 M to keep supports and services in place.

I know why this is important, because James and I have benefitted from services that came out of this law. For those of you who are wondering why this Act needs support, here is a good site: The Lanternman Coalition.

If you've ever wondered what you could do to help James or I, or someone like us, or if you just love to engage in political/social activism, I invite you to send a message to your CA State Legislators ASAP to show at the rally and sign a letter to fund services under this important law. The rally is this morning, 4/3 from 10 until around Noon.

I know time is short - so here are some links to make it easy:

• Find your Legislator
• Tweet you Legislator - this website has everything ready to go for you: Social Media Toolkit
• email your Legislator - my message is below.

Dear Assemblyman ___________:  I am writing you today to ask you to attend today's Keep the Promise rally at the Capitol to support the Lanternman Act. As a single parent of a child with developmental disabilities I appreciate how crucial it is to have access to services supported by this law. I am asking that you sign the letter sponsored by Assemblymembers Chris Holden and Jim Frazier, along with Senator Stern, to increase funding by $209 million to help retain workers who provide crucial services for thousands of families such as ours, and keep the organizations that provide these services open.

I have personally experienced the loss of several great people who could no longer afford to work at low wages for such services as respite care, behaviorists, classroom aides, and teachers. Living in a fire devastated area that is experiencing soaring housing costs puts hardship on us all. Having your support of the Lanterman Act is very important to us all who live here and will continue to be strong support for so many of us who live in not only Santa Rosa but Sonoma County.

If you would like to know more about why I ask for your support of the Lanternman Act, I invite you to contact me.

Yours Sincerely,

For more about what the Lanternman Act means to people and the community, the video below is great!

Thank you!