A Response to Tools of Exclusion

Jump to Comments

Sisters Charlotte & Elise

From Dawn Brunkalla – Mom, advocate, student from Stark County Ohio

When my daughter Elise, a  youngster that has Down syndrome, walks the halls of her public school, I  believe that most people accept her for who she is and not see her as one of  those children that Stark MR/DD says is a threat to the public school  system.  People with  disabilities face a lifetime of discrimination  from the uneducated and uninformed…and I never thought that it would come from  an agency built on protecting her rights and dignity. If Stark MR/DD wants to  help students, they can support students with developmental disabilities in  the public schools in a multitude of ways.  However, arguing that  children are a threat to the public school system is hurtful, demeaning and  wrong.  This message furthers fosters anti-inclusion sentiment and it is misleading on many many levels.

1 Comment

Filed under Belonging, Parenting, community, disability, education, human rights, inclusion, leadership