U.S. education system is failing students with special needs

Why students with disabilities are capable

of graduating on time.

 

This is why they’re not.

09/11/2019

 U.S. education system is failing

students with special needs.

by Sarah Butrymowicz  and  Jackie Mader

As a teenager, Michael McLaughlin wanted to go to college. He had several disabilities, including dyslexia and bipolar disorder, which threatened to make the road ahead more difficult. He sometimes had trouble paying attention in class and understanding directions.

He also had an IQ of 115 — on the upper ranges of what is considered average. With help, he should have been able to graduate alongside his classmates, ready to pursue higher education.

But instead of graduating from Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska, in four years, he took six. After high school, he did odd jobs for several years.

This story also appeared in The Huffington Post

“Our son’s education was a waste,” his mother, Michelle McLaughlin, said. “We could get no one to listen or do what was needed.”

There are 6.6 million public school children enrolled in special education in the United States, 13 percent of all public school students. Kids like Michael make up the vast majority of them. Their disabilities shouldn’t keep them from achieving the same standards as their peers — and experts estimate that up to 90 percent of students with disabilities are capable of graduating high school fully prepared to tackle college or a career if they receive proper support along the way.

Yet, just 65 percent of special education students graduate on time, well below the 83 percent four-year rate for American students overall. Many of those that do earn their diplomas find themselves unprepared for the real world. After high school, students with disabilities have lower college graduation rates than their peers and earn less once they join the workforce.

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Reminder: Support Family Connection's 2019 Buddy Walk

Support Family Connection of South Carolina's 2019 Buddy Walk!   Family Connection of South Carolina will host our 20th Annual Columbia Buddy Walk on Sunday, October 20, 2019 from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.    Last year, over 2,000 people and 87 Special Buddies participated in the walk alongside over 45 sponsors and vendors.   This year, we would love for your organization or business to join us as a sponsor at Saluda Shoals Park Athletic Complex in Columbia, SC as we work to make connections, raise awareness and promote inclusion during National Down Syndrome Awareness Month!      Sponsorship Opportunities Available   Sponsorship Opportunities for the 2019 Buddy Walk are now available at various levels, including:  ·     Champion Level ($2,500) ·     Advocate Level ($1,000) ·     Ally Level ($500) ·     Friend ($250) ·     Fan ($100)   These opportunities are available for your organization and include various levels of recognition, depending on your level of commitment, including:   ·     Recognition on stage during opening ceremonies. ·     Recognition on all signage/print materials at the walk. ·     Logo on Buddy Walk t-shirt. ·     Recognition in issues of the monthly Family Connection eNewsletter, sent to over 3,000 supporters statewide. ·     Social media posts to Family Connection’s more than 7,000 followers. ·     Logo and link to your website on FamilyConnectionSC.org partner page and the Buddy Walk fundraising site. ·     Free Buddy Walk t-shirts. ·     Vendor spot and the ability to place promotional/print materials in Special Buddy bags to the event’s over 125 participants. ·     And more!   Sponsorship Opportunities       Your support changes lives!   Through your donations we are able to provide peer-to-peer support for families that have a child with Down syndrome.   Through your donations we are able to help families navigate the complex healthcare system to include understanding how to apply for TEFRA.   Through your donations we are able to provide educational opportunities for parents through workshops, webinars, conferences, at NO cost to parents.   Through your donations we are able to advocate for laws which benefit individuals with Down syndrome and other disabilities, like the ABLE Act, which creates tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities.    Through your donations we are able to provide the book, “Babies with Down syndrome: A New Parent’s Guide” to families when they receive a new diagnosis of Down syndrome, in both English and Spanish.   Through your donations we are able to offer family events, sibling support groups, and host events like the Buddy Walk to raise awareness and CELEBRATE individuals with Down syndrome in our community!   This is just a small fraction of what we do! Thank you for helping Family Connection of South Carolina continue to grow and expand our programs and support for children and families!     Other Buddy Walks in SC   TriCounty Buddy Walk® 10/05/2019 • 13200 Clemson Blvd Seneca, SC   South Carolina Upstate Buddy Walk® 2019 09/28/2019 • Conestee Park Greenville, SC  Grand Strand Buddy Walk® Festival 10/26/2019 • Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC Lowcountry Buddy Walk® 2019 10/20/2019 • 363 Seven Farms Dr Daniel Island, SC  Intelligent Ambition NoLimits Buddy Walk® 10/12/2019 • 395 Pine Street Varnville, SC   Upcoming Events in Your Area   Upstate Midlands Pee Dee Lowcountry Statewide

SC Statewide Transition Newsletter- September 2019

In This Issue   ·         Details on SC's Annual State Transition Conference ·         Credential Corner ·         Assistive Technology for Job Success ·         Disability Mentoring Day Local/ Regional Events   ·         09/18/2019- Hire Me SC Workshop in Dorchester County Flyer ·         09/26/2019- Assistive Technology Leadership Conference Register ·         10/15/2019- Practical UDL/Personalized Instruction Tools for ALL Students Training Register Keep Up With Us   What is TASC   Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Email

Building Bridges: Constructing and Navigating Transition Services for Youth with Disabilities   South Carolina’s 6th Annual Interagency Transition Conference    November 19-21, 2019 Downtown Greenville, SC    Convene your local transition team and join your peers from across the state for South Carolina’s annual interagency transition team conference.  Conference Registration Link Hotel Accommodations Link **Reserve your room today (Space is Limited)**   GENERAL SESSIONS Eric Rowles of Leading to Change Youth from Charleston’s Leadership Academy State Transition Leadership Updates Sessions will include information and resources for improving practices and programs that support youth with a variety of transition service needs. Sessions meeting the information needs of teachers and practitioners helping students work toward the SC High School Credential will also be highlighted. A wide range of topics will be covered including: career preparation community-based employment experiences school based enterprises self-determination student leadership parent engagement drop-out prevention strategies Project Search! Download Flyer         Credential Corner (SCOSES)   The SC Office of Special Education Services is pleased to announce the newly state adopted South Carolina High School Credential Essentials of Technology Course as well as Cross-Walking Guidance that will assist IEP teams and public school personnel in the decision-making process necessary when a high school student, who has an IEP, is transitioning from one course of study to another or from out of state and that transition involves the credential course of study. Click on the links to learn more.   SCHSC Technology Coursework   SCHSC Cross-Walking Guidance   For access to these resources and more visit the SC High School Credential Website     We know there is a lot of great High School Credential work going on in South Carolina! Please share it with your colleagues across the state! Click below to send your shining stories to: transition@uscmed.sc.edu     Assistive Technology for Job Success (SCATP)   Assistive Technology (AT) is anything that improves or increases functional capabilities. It can be a device or software that makes the workplace accessible or the job easier to do. Who uses AT at work? We all do! Using a computer rather than paper and pen, walking on a ramp into a building, or completing an organized list of tasks are all ways we use AT. For many employees, it makes our job easier; for employees with disabilities, it makes the job possible. Some employees with disabilities need more than what is usually found at the work site. This is not a problem, as there are lots of solutions available to make buildings and offices more accessible. Buildings can be more accessible by adding ramps, automatic doors, and additional lighting. Bathrooms can be more accessible by widening doors using swing-away hinges and adding grab bars and raised toilet seats. To help an employee with organization, it’s best to start with the technology the employee already has. Most phones come with reminder, calendar, and note apps. These are incredibly useful tools to make sure tasks are completed before they are due, work days are started on time, and task details are not forgotten. Additional tools are available such as pens that record audio and apps that can provide audio and photos of individual steps in a task. Reading can be facilitated by software and apps that read text out loud. Apps are available that take a picture of text and read it so the employee can listen. Writing can be accomplished efficiently with pen grips, speech-recognition software and more. Speech recognition is built into all Macs and PCs. Employees who are blind can use devices, apps and screen-readers that read text out loud. For employees with low vision, there are many devices like CCTVs, handheld video magnifiers, low tech magnifiers, and even devices that can be worn or attached to glasses. Communicating by phone can be a challenge for employees with hearing loss. Amplified phones are available for people who need amplification for phone conversations. Phone Relay apps are available for tablets. For employees with difficulty communicating verbally, there are a wide variety of voice output communication devices to choose from, including communication apps for phones and tablets. These devices can be accessed using eye gaze, touch screen, or switch. Computer use is possible for some employees by typing with an adapted keyboard or using an adapted mouse. Adapted keyboards come in many shapes and sizes and some do not even have keys. Adapted mice can be configured to be used by just about any part of the body, even the eyes! For assistance finding what works best for any employee, contact the SC Assistive Technology Program at 803-935-5263 or carol.page@uscmed.sc.edu Demonstrations are provided for free in our Resource Center located in Columbia. We offer free loans of equipment for two to four weeks so employee and employer know it’s a good fit.     Disability Mentoring Day (SCVRD)   Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) is an annual event coordinated by The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) to promote career development for students and job-seekers with disabilities through hands-on career exploration and ongoing mentoring relationships. Each year, local VR offices host a DMD event during the month of October.  These activities provide pre-employment transition services through job exploration, self-advocacy, workplace readiness, and work-based learning opportunities.   Be sure to check with your local VR Counselor to find out what exciting things will be happening for students this year and how you can participate.  You can also find more information on the VR events page, as they are added, by visiting https://scvrd.net/events/ To learn more about AAPD or DMD on the national level, visit their website at https://www.aapd.com/disability-mentoring-day/