The name Betsy DeVos has ignited apprehension among numerous parents and educators, particularly those of children with special needs who rely on a robust public school system for their educational requirements. Her proposals and perceived lack of understanding are particularly alarming. Parents of children with diverse abilities are already engaged in a daily struggle to secure their children’s educational rights. Any redirection of funds could lead to even less support for those who are already receiving inadequate resources.
There is no greater agony than witnessing your child in pain, especially when you feel powerless to alleviate their suffering. This is our reality. Our son urgently needs assistance, but we are unable to provide it.
For the past year and a half, we have been embroiled in a conflict with our local school regarding our son’s special education needs. He is a courageous and intelligent young man, endowed with a kind heart. His most significant achievement thus far has been enduring the trials of high school—a challenging experience even for those without obstacles—while grappling with diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and Tourette’s syndrome. Unfortunately, for the past eighteen months, his needs have gone unmet within our high school environment. The accommodations outlined in his Individualized Education Program (IEP) have not been implemented, his general education teachers fail to communicate with his academic support team, and he has not accomplished any of his IEP goals.
His academic performance has plummeted from As and Bs in middle school to Ds, all while supposedly receiving daily academic assistance. He has been bullied repeatedly, faces daily ostracism, and his social and emotional well-being has significantly deteriorated. Recently, I learned that he has been spending his lunch periods in the bathroom. When I gently inquired about this heart-wrenching behavior, he replied simply, “When I sat at the tables, people got up and left. I’d rather be alone.”
Despite these painful realities, he attends school each day without complaint. Each morning, I watch from our window as he walks to the bus stop, head down, headphones on, and hood pulled up. Tears fill my eyes as I send my precious boy off to confront another day filled with struggles and feelings of inadequacy.
I recently compiled an extensive document for the town administration detailing the numerous instances where his IEP was disregarded and his rights violated. This document spanned 18 pages. I have met with his entire school team more than ten times. I’ve shared my concerns with the principal and the head of special education in our district. I send emails to staff members weekly, sometimes daily, to ensure compliance with what they are obligated to provide. I have relentlessly advocated for him to receive what he needs and what was promised, yet to no avail.
Nothing has improved. We have requested that he be transferred to a private special needs school or a district with a more effective program that can cater to his needs, but our requests have been denied. Despite his profound depression, social isolation, and troubling grades despite his high IQ, we have been met with refusal. Even with legal counsel present at meetings and escalating our concerns to the administration, we have been told no. Letters from his psychiatrist, psychologist, and developmental pediatrician, emphasizing that he is at risk and requires urgent relocation to a school that can accommodate his needs, have also been disregarded.
During a recent IEP meeting, the team chair stated, “The bottom line is that we are meeting his needs. He comes to school each day and is not failing out; that is all we are required to do.” We feel trapped, with a school that is unwilling to exert the effort necessary to meet our child’s needs or adhere to his IEP. We recognize that he cannot remain in his current situation without significant harm, but there appear to be no alternatives available.
When people hear our story, their reactions are often similar: “They can’t do that!” “That’s terrible!” “Your son has rights!” “You need to fight harder!” or, my personal favorite, “Why not send him somewhere else?” My response is invariably the same: “Where exactly would that be?” The rights of my son would likely be even less protected in a private school that is not bound by state and federal education laws. Private institutions typically offer limited resources for special education students. However, this discussion is somewhat irrelevant because, given his academic struggles and numerous challenges, he would likely not be accepted anywhere.
Charter schools also lack sufficient resources to support students with special needs. While they are technically required to comply with educational laws and not discriminate in admissions, many families would attest to their experiences suggesting otherwise.
We have resided in this town for over 13 years. Our three other children are content and settled here. Surprisingly, our town has a reputation for being relatively accommodating to children with special needs. Relocating could jeopardize the happiness of our other children without any guarantee of a better outcome for our oldest son. It could potentially be worse.
Private schools catering to children with special needs charge families upwards of $70,000 annually. Most do not offer financial aid and require inquiries to be routed through our town. I am confident that the proposed voucher options from our new Secretary of Education will not benefit these schools. It would be akin to believing that a 10% discount coupon could allow a middle-class family to afford a luxury car.
Our goal was never for our child to attend a private special needs institution; we believe in the importance of public education. We value the diversity, dedicated educators, and acceptance of all children, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities. Nevertheless, public schools are becoming increasingly strained in providing adequate special education services to the growing number of children needing support. Educators lack the time and flexibility to assist students in the manner they wish, and budget constraints hinder the development of new programs that could better serve special education students.
The outcome is that our children are left without adequate support and no alternative options. Consequently, we are now pursuing legal action. The strain of this situation on our family is immeasurable. Soon, we will incur legal fees and face heightened stress, all while our child continues to suffer and lose confidence in himself.
The appointment of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education comes at a particularly difficult time for our family and many others. She appears unaware of what a day in the life of a child in special education entails. She lacks familiarity with the laws that protect their limited rights and, most importantly, has no understanding of how trapped children with special needs feel within the education system.
DeVos advocates for educational choices for children. Instead of enhancing the current public school system—which accommodates diverse religions, families, socioeconomic statuses, and abilities—she intends to reallocate funds from already struggling budgets to support vouchers for private and charter schools, which are often less welcoming to children with special needs.
She claims that families deserve choices. However, the children who require the most from their education often have the fewest options, and this approach will not bring about improvement. They rely on a well-funded public school system to fulfill their needs, as they are frequently unwelcome elsewhere.
What good is a voucher to my son when there are no viable alternatives? How can a voucher, which merely diverts resources from the one school he can attend, help him? We cannot expect already overburdened schools to adequately serve this vulnerable population while facing further funding cuts. Therefore, I implore you, Betsy DeVos, to address the question that keeps me and countless other special needs parents awake at night: What choices does my child truly have?
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In summary, the ongoing struggle for adequate support in public education for children with special needs highlights the urgent need for systemic change. The challenges faced by families like ours underscore the importance of maintaining a well-funded public school system that can meet the diverse needs of all students.
Keyphrase: special education challenges
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