tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892344170791364530.post1718414243996849467..comments2023-10-25T05:54:40.951-04:00Comments on The Writing Life x3: my letter to Newsweek about Special EducationPatrick Gabridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11497038051641691987noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892344170791364530.post-12321693241407485862009-04-12T15:11:00.000-04:002009-04-12T15:11:00.000-04:00http://edthoughts.wordpress.com/2009/04/12/tagsol/...http://edthoughts.wordpress.com/2009/04/12/tagsol/Ed_Thoughtshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10474611362036374526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892344170791364530.post-52876161989319807962009-03-04T22:46:00.000-05:002009-03-04T22:46:00.000-05:00Pat,Well said. You are so right. I find arguments...Pat,<BR/><BR/>Well said. You are so right. I find arguments like that so frustrating, and I'm surprised the mother of a special needs child would propose such a thing. If my son had not had the intensive intervention and continued special education programming and services that he's been lucky enough to get, he would be a different child indeed. But like you, we are not without resources; we could make that happen. Our very bright and talented older child will thrive anywhere, but our little guy on the autism spectrum needs all the help he can get. I hope resources are not taken away from him!Deb Vlockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07200413686798230279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892344170791364530.post-90860711477907080072009-03-04T20:50:00.000-05:002009-03-04T20:50:00.000-05:00Well said, Claudia. Our son has various special n...Well said, Claudia. Our son has various special needs, and early intervention and quality special education have been an immense help for him. But we ended up having to move because we could see that the Boston public schools did not have a long-term solution that would work for him. Not everyone has the resources to move like we did, though. The discrepancies in resources between districts is stunning--this has a direct relationship to the long-term future of these kids.Patrick Gabridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11497038051641691987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892344170791364530.post-12083354367493363832009-03-04T20:44:00.000-05:002009-03-04T20:44:00.000-05:00I have seen special needs students thrive and I've...I have seen special needs students thrive and I've seen them flounder. The difference? Early intervention and programs to help the child. Addressing something like autism in preschool is the difference between helping a young person become a contributing member of society or a drain. No child wants to be a drain. That a child's future is altered because of what school district he/she attends is maddening. I'll shut up now.Claudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15601656778586008081noreply@blogger.com