A Special Budget

Children are a gift from God. Sometimes, they require special treatment and the parents who love their children despite their disabilities are amazing people.

At the start of this school year, most Michigan school boards made cuts to the budget used by the special education department at their schools. What does this mean for those affected by it?

First, many of the schools have eliminated resource rooms where children can go to get help in areas such as math, reading, writing and organizational skills. Multiple schools will have fewer speech, occupational or physical therapists, along with social workers and school psychologists, resulting in students who previously received speech therapy twice a week having to receive it once a week. On top of that, in some general education classrooms that had two teachers – one for the whole class and one specifically to support students with special needs – the special education teacher has been eliminated.

First, let’s take a glance at priorities. Such as what schools so often place ahead of special education on the scale of importance. Schools spend hundreds, maybe thousands, on athletic programs. Physical well-being is highly important. But, couldn’t those athletes get along just fine without spending extra money? I am an athlete, so I am not labeling the athletic department as useless.

However, I am saying that the excess money should go back into the resources for the special needs children. The athletes aren’t going to have any negative academic or mental effects without it. The special education students, on the other hand, will miss out on special learning attention. That is much more needed and important.

You may not be familiar with the movie ‘Radio’, but it is a shining example of the dire need these children have for support not only in their home lives, but in the education aspect of their lives as well. In this film, Radio, a special education student, is rejected because of his disabilities. When he feels betrayed and alone, it is a teacher who steps in to take him in as a student equal to the rest of the student body. The entire film thrives on the message of hope that children with disabilities have that they may have a support system within the school.

What are your thoughts? I would love to hear your feedback via email.