tlecky Pink English 11 htlr. Kieler Sept.

3,2013 Helping Special Neeils Chiklren

Iiave you ever thought about children w'ith special needs?

programs the.v have to take to
tr,v-

Flor.v ahout the

and get better? Have 3riru thought about horv our

sclu:ols meet the diverse needs of these children'l Do you think that public schools shoulcl

provide special facilities and prograrns fbr cliildren? I believe that public schools should
provide an educational program that rneets the ph,vsical and educational needs of children

rvith disabilities"
'I'he Individuals rryith Disabilities llducation Act is federal larv mandating a free a and appropriate pirblic education tbr all studelts. First off, many studetts throughout the

[:lighland Schnol District hecom* successf-ul frorn the special programs and facilities our

district offers. Highlanci offers speech" r.rccupational. and physic,al therap.v at least tr.vice a
r.r,eek.

"llhysical therapy' is a related serice provided to assist a child rryith a disabiliti, to

tcr

benefit lrom special education. School physical therapl,'focuses on a child's ability

lltovo as ind*pendently as possible in the schor"rl envirorunent. The schor:l physical

tirerapist evaluates the chikl's ability lo move tluoughout the school anrl to participate in
classrooru activitics." (Wisconsin l)epartrrent of Public Instruction)

If our schaol dicl not

prr:viile these programs, some of our students *ould h;rve to go to a diffbrent krcation just
to receir.,* these special services.
Ser,ilndl.v, having these stuclents in uur s*hcol gives everyone a chance to interact and leam frorn them. Caleb Ileisz plays wheelchair basketball. Ite brought his whole

Whitew'ater baskettrall team to Highlancl and shr:wed us holv they play basketball using

rvheelchairs. Some students even got the opportunit-1,'to pla,v basketball in a rvheelchair against them. Caleb taught those students w'hat it feels like to be confined to a wheelchair

ail dav long.

Physioal actions a1e not the only things rn'e leam from stuclents with special needs.

I know I've leamed a lot ltom r{ddie lvfichek, Jennilbr h4inter and Shelbey Bomkamp

evelyday. I've learned to

he

thankful for evcrlthing I liave. I'm able to r,vake up in the

moming. take my olvn shorver. pick my own outfits, eat my orm breakfast and go ol1
r.vith m,v day.

Students with special needs are not as fi:rtunate as I am, however Highlancl High

school is ftirtunate to have teach aides to help students with special needs. Ily having
these teacher aides, the students are able to participate in every day classes and be aparl

of the school day rvith their peers. Another reasoil our schr:ols need these programs is hecause these kids deserve to
feel irrcluded in activities. i know it is important to Ilighland's class af 2015 to rnake
sure Jemifer feels included as rve all clo. During our freshman and sophomore.vear. our
class made sure Jennitbr tblt includecl during our l{omecoming ancl Prom festivities. She carne to the parade and w"as invited to dinner before the dance. For prom she gol irer hair

done. had a prom dress, and toi:k part in pictures and grunes. She enjoyed the dance and
rvils happy to be included. Over the .r,''ears, oul class has gained patience by ansrvering

many of the same questions she asks each day.

Now some people may think that having these progr";tms cost too much money
anil that is r.vhy we oan't pulchase other things that rve may neecl or want. Other people may not like having these programs in our school s,vstems because they feel

ltllcomfill'table arorurd these types of children or do nct rvant their

a group r.vith them.

rir,r,n

children rnixed i1

Thel, also rnight not like their ph,vsical feattue. h-vgiene" 6r

communication skills.

I believe that having any program in our

schoCIl system costs rnoney. Highlancl

lligh School recentl,v updated their nrath curriculum. Ry updating tlris cumiculum" the
high school had to purchase all new books which r\re a high expense for the school.
Hven though it u'as expensive, the school still dicl it because they knerv it r.voulcl benefit

their students and help them to excel in their education. I fbel that rve. United States
citizens" should spend money ou helping others instead of ourselves. Some people may

ftel uncoml'or"table around

because there are children

these students, but they should get used to being ar.ound them

all around the i.vorld who have disabilities. Having

a special

need cloes not make 3''ou different or scary. "special needs children are just like you and me. and they do want to he treated like human beings. While they may look and act

cliffbrent, thty all rvant the other tliings that other lrumans want: love, affection, companionship, enjo,vable hobbies, a.nd procluctive hobbies." (Stelter. Daniel) Every,-

citizen has their own characteristics and wa.vs about them that not everyone likes. These
children did m.lt choose this characteristic in their lifb; it is something they r,vere born
r,rrith.

Along with having those who feel the same rva-v i do about programs fbr children rvith disabilities. there are many rr-ho feel clifftrentl.v. These people believe that these children should rec0ive a separate education in a ditTerent institution or sometimes kept at
hnme. One of the reasons Inan,v people r.vant these kicls kept out of school is because
the cost of education.

of

"All

over the country" special eclucation is being scrutinizecl. and

often criticizecl. especiail,v ivith respect to cost. But cost shr:uld rot be the onl,v factor
considered - benefit must also enter intu the cliscussion." (Meeting the Diverse Needs

of

Young Children)

It is also difficult to have these students feel fully included when our schools do
not provide extra curricular activities for evf,ry person with every need. For instance, wheelchair basketball. Highland l{igh School cloes not have enough students in a w'heel chair to make up a team. Hor.v is a student in a w'heel chair supposed to tbel inciuded when he or she cannot participate in baskethall because ther* is not a team for them to play on?

Look at homecoming. Football ancl marching band are a huge part

of

homecoming. Students il,'ith special needs such as being in a r,i,'heelchair or lbnctioning at

a significant ycltlllger age. lirnits their involvernent in these

activities. A student who

fliirctions o'nonnally" or is not physically impaired has his or her choice of anyone of
these to participate

in. Ilorv

is the school supposed to acoommodate stuclents with special

nseds to be a part of these activities

if he or

she rvould like tri participate?

iv{y ansr.r,er to all these questions is providing education to school statTand students on how, to help involve them. For the student in a w{reelchair u,ho r.vants to pla;r on the bask$tball team. Give lrim or hel
a

jersey" let them participate in practice and be

the manager and help the team rvarm-up. This rva,v the student is part of the team and
gets to plai.,'basketball.

Dwing lrr.lmecoming, if the student u,ants to participate in

marching band" girre him or her an instrument that they can play at their clevelopmental

lsvel. 'I'here is ahvays a;:lace for every

stuclent in every activity.

special needs chilclren benefit frnrn being in a public school system. ,rhey leam social skills in a public school finm r'v-atching their peers. whicrr in my experience, most shtdents accepts these kids for who they are and qualities they offer. These students r.vill also leam the necessa$ skills to be productive in society. .,Federal larvs r.elating to children with disabilities, such as the Educatio' tbr All Handicapped children Act (Public Law 94-142)' specify that all students w'ho have disabilities are e,titred to a free, appropriate public education, regardless of skill levels or severity of disability, in the least restrictive environment possible.,, (S

ofto, William)

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Works Cited

"Wisconsin Department of pubiic Instruction.,' School Ba,setl physical Therapy. N.p.. Web. I Sep 2013.

i:
:i:

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stelter' Daniel' "5 Tips to Interacting with special Neeils persons. " .N.p., 22 Jan200g. Web. I Sep 2013.

"Meeting the Diverse Neecls of young Childr"en.,, .N"p., n.d. Web.

I Sep 2A13.

sofko' william. "Evaluating cost

Sep 2013.

ancr

Benefit in special Education.,, .N.p., n.d. web. r

Ilep"r Grading Rubric

(4)

he accepted unless it is at least four md contains at least three (3) sources

offourpages typed, double spaced, l2,point Times

htmtffif
ffinffin

Paragraph includes an attention grabbing first sentence, ofthe probt.rrr, illd thesis statement

^$
-27

tzs

tzo

Supporting Paragraphs include facts to substantiate your argument

ilrc0
Includes arguments to negate the opposing viewpoints (counter argument)

J5
Essay uses at least 3 persuasive techniques (e.g. ethos, pathos, logos, . personal experience, rhetorical questions,

t2s

action, loaded words, srunter argume.uls, rebuttals, etc.f

nguiatiuffirguage, call to

furzo
Devises a clear solution to the problem

*b tzo