Tell Duval Public Schools not to build an Autism Center that would cause unnecessary segregation.
53 Comments
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Nikki Walker
10 years ago
Featured
The Board is focusing on the wrong thing, separating the Autism children is taking away their ability to be able to function in everyday life and coming across different personalities. Children that don't have disabilities need to learn how to interact with disable children as well.
T
Tavia soule
10 years ago
You are trying to close my child school down (Oak Hill). Where is my child suppose to learn at? I am very upset and do not like it at all.
D
Derrick Gallman
10 years ago
I do not won't to see center for kids with autism. All normal kids and kids with disabilities should be together. Educated on different levels based on their needs.
D
Danielle
10 years ago
What a lot of parents don't know is the kids don't have to be segregated and there is no need for another school. Parents can apply for a McKay scholarship if their child has a 504 plan or IEP and go to a private school that can help. This just seems like something else that needs funding.
R
renee anderson
10 years ago
Featured
our church includes kids with autism in the same class with other students and assigns a special assistant to help with the special needs. It would be less costly to provide the support in a normal structured environment and allow these children to learn to interact with everyday situations. segregating a school wont help, work places wont be segregated later in life.
A
Arielle pompilius
10 years ago
this is discriminatory and should be stopped
M
Melissa Lenertz
· petition starter
10 years ago
More one on one attention is needed and more resources for the teachers and you're right something has to be done in Duval and it is time for change. The point of this petition is to let Duval County know that they don't have to segregate the children with autism to provide them with the best resources and smaller class sizes. Student whom have delays in communication and social skills benefit from being around other children that are not disabled. Duval County does need to do something and I've been saying that for years. I am very happy that they are finally taking an interest in the population of students with autism and are ready to put some funding towards it. Thank you for your comment.
M
Monica Brown
10 years ago
Are you kidding me. The school would be a great benefit for children with autism. They need to also add Special ED to the public schools in Duvall. What about these under paid Teachers with minimal resources who are trying to teach a classroom of students and have to devote most of their time to the ones with disability. Are you seriously saying you would not think you child would benefit from more one on one attention. This school is long overdue. Finally people are seeing that children with disability need more help and not to be pushed forward to the next level only to be even further behind. "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND"
N
Nicole Cleghorn
10 years ago
I think people need to look at the big picture. I have three sons with autism. Two high functioning and full inclusion students and one who has severe autism and is in an autism preK class. My child with severe autism would benefit from a school like this because it would be able to provide him with more of the services that he needs. My older sons with high functioning autism wouldn't have a need for a school environment like this. It's not a matter of segregation or making the child feel like they don't belong. It's a matter of making sure that those children that have severe disabilities are getting every possible support. My son is five but developmentally around two years of age. He is non verbal and has a variety of other issues that will keep him from being in an inclusion classroom environment. In his current environment in a public school, he receives the bare minimum of support. In order for him to receive the help he needs, I have to enroll him in a private school, which I can't afford. Thankfully he is eligible for a McKay scholarship this year but the school he will be attending is for kids on the spectrum. If there were a public school option for this, I would enroll him in a heartbeat. While I encourage tolerance and teaching typically developing children to embrace those that are different, sometimes the harsh reality needs to be faced that your child may have different needs and benefit from something like this. As a parent it's never easy to accept things like this. But autism isn't something that will go away or that you can "train" your child not to have. You want your child to be an environment that is conducive to their learning and thriving any way that they can.
M
Mick Dolan
10 years ago
I agree with Melissa Lenertz.
D
Dawn Collins
10 years ago
I have a child on the Spectrum and cannot agree that segregating them is not the solution. They have a hard enough tinge learning in a room full of "normal" kids. What good will it do to put 30+ children with learning challenges together? They need structure. They need disciple. But most importantly, they need understanding. They don't need to be separated and made too feel less than others.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Wake up school board members! This proposal is highly illegal. Federal law trumps Duval's dictator! Autistic children have every right to be educated alongside their non disabled peers.
T
Terry millican
10 years ago
Not only does this violate IDEA and ADA it ignores best practice. We are going backwards.
A
Alexandra
10 years ago
Completely unnecessary!
And as a mother simply disappointed. If my son were to be autistic, I'd wish for him to live just as much of a socially integrated life as a kid without autism. Seperating autistic kids from the rest sould only cause them to feel unwanted and like they don't belong and no child should ever feel like that!!
R
Ron Inlow
10 years ago
Featured
I have worked with children and adults with disabilities all my life and I am convinced that education that is all inclusive is the most successful environment to learn. To segregate their environment is detrimental to their cognitive and social development.
J
Jason
10 years ago
Featured
Students with disabilities should not be separated from non-disabled peers. We do not take a child out of the general education class if they have to use a wheelchair. A disability is only part of who a person is. With appropriate support and leadership, inclusion can work for everyone.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Please don't do this.. My son has autism and he would soooooo benefit this.
M
Matthew
10 years ago
Hi
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
I am a special education teacher who would love nothing more than to see a complete inclusive environment.
The Board is focusing on the wrong thing, separating the Autism children is taking away their ability to be able to function in everyday life and coming across different personalities. Children that don't have disabilities need to learn how to interact with disable children as well.
You are trying to close my child school down (Oak Hill). Where is my child suppose to learn at? I am very upset and do not like it at all.
I do not won't to see center for kids with autism. All normal kids and kids with disabilities should be together. Educated on different levels based on their needs.
What a lot of parents don't know is the kids don't have to be segregated and there is no need for another school. Parents can apply for a McKay scholarship if their child has a 504 plan or IEP and go to a private school that can help. This just seems like something else that needs funding.
our church includes kids with autism in the same class with other students and assigns a special assistant to help with the special needs. It would be less costly to provide the support in a normal structured environment and allow these children to learn to interact with everyday situations. segregating a school wont help, work places wont be segregated later in life.
this is discriminatory and should be stopped
More one on one attention is needed and more resources for the teachers and you're right something has to be done in Duval and it is time for change. The point of this petition is to let Duval County know that they don't have to segregate the children with autism to provide them with the best resources and smaller class sizes. Student whom have delays in communication and social skills benefit from being around other children that are not disabled. Duval County does need to do something and I've been saying that for years. I am very happy that they are finally taking an interest in the population of students with autism and are ready to put some funding towards it. Thank you for your comment.
Are you kidding me. The school would be a great benefit for children with autism. They need to also add Special ED to the public schools in Duvall. What about these under paid Teachers with minimal resources who are trying to teach a classroom of students and have to devote most of their time to the ones with disability. Are you seriously saying you would not think you child would benefit from more one on one attention. This school is long overdue. Finally people are seeing that children with disability need more help and not to be pushed forward to the next level only to be even further behind. "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND"
I think people need to look at the big picture. I have three sons with autism. Two high functioning and full inclusion students and one who has severe autism and is in an autism preK class. My child with severe autism would benefit from a school like this because it would be able to provide him with more of the services that he needs. My older sons with high functioning autism wouldn't have a need for a school environment like this. It's not a matter of segregation or making the child feel like they don't belong. It's a matter of making sure that those children that have severe disabilities are getting every possible support. My son is five but developmentally around two years of age. He is non verbal and has a variety of other issues that will keep him from being in an inclusion classroom environment. In his current environment in a public school, he receives the bare minimum of support. In order for him to receive the help he needs, I have to enroll him in a private school, which I can't afford. Thankfully he is eligible for a McKay scholarship this year but the school he will be attending is for kids on the spectrum. If there were a public school option for this, I would enroll him in a heartbeat. While I encourage tolerance and teaching typically developing children to embrace those that are different, sometimes the harsh reality needs to be faced that your child may have different needs and benefit from something like this. As a parent it's never easy to accept things like this. But autism isn't something that will go away or that you can "train" your child not to have. You want your child to be an environment that is conducive to their learning and thriving any way that they can.
I agree with Melissa Lenertz.
I have a child on the Spectrum and cannot agree that segregating them is not the solution. They have a hard enough tinge learning in a room full of "normal" kids. What good will it do to put 30+ children with learning challenges together? They need structure. They need disciple. But most importantly, they need understanding. They don't need to be separated and made too feel less than others.
Wake up school board members! This proposal is highly illegal. Federal law trumps Duval's dictator! Autistic children have every right to be educated alongside their non disabled peers.
Not only does this violate IDEA and ADA it ignores best practice. We are going backwards.
Completely unnecessary! And as a mother simply disappointed. If my son were to be autistic, I'd wish for him to live just as much of a socially integrated life as a kid without autism. Seperating autistic kids from the rest sould only cause them to feel unwanted and like they don't belong and no child should ever feel like that!!
I have worked with children and adults with disabilities all my life and I am convinced that education that is all inclusive is the most successful environment to learn. To segregate their environment is detrimental to their cognitive and social development.
Students with disabilities should not be separated from non-disabled peers. We do not take a child out of the general education class if they have to use a wheelchair. A disability is only part of who a person is. With appropriate support and leadership, inclusion can work for everyone.
Please don't do this.. My son has autism and he would soooooo benefit this.
Hi
I am a special education teacher who would love nothing more than to see a complete inclusive environment.
No no no