Introduction: New Beginnings....
Enduring
Hopes
My son, Nevada, is five years
old and attends preschool at Farley Elementary. Nevada's best friend is
Dustin. When you see Nevada, you will see Dustin right behind him. At lunch
time, at circle time, center time and going down the hall, the two are inseparable.
Nevada rides to and from school with his classmates. He always has a big, beautiful smile on his face, loves to give you five to anyone who asks and is a devoted fan of Barney the dinosaur. This story is not unusual for most children in preschool, but, you see, my child has disabilities. Nevada has cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, a tracheotomy, a seizure disorder, asthma, and a g-tube. He is oxygen dependent, uses a wheelchair and is nonverbal.
When he started at Farley, everyone was apprehensive. By midyear everyone knew that Farley was where Nevada belonged and that finding the right adaptations could sometimes be fun! Nevada's teacher is the best and is always looking for ways to help him progress to his full potential. The children have learned to accept Nevada just as he is. These children will continue to be Nevada's classmates throughout his school years. When they graduate and become professionals in the community, they will remember Nevada and welcome people with disabilities into their lives, their businesses, their churches, and their homes. Just as it should be.
- Parent from Western Kentucky
When Ryan was born in 1986 with Down
syndrome, we were told by our elderly family general practitioner that there
are good homes for children like him. Well, that expert turned out to be
right, but not in the way that he intended. The "good home" turned
out to be ours! Ryan is now a P-4 student (3rd grade). He is reading at
grade level, a skill that has startled the professionals. His special education
teacher has admitted to us that he had not expected Ryan to read that well
and that he would not have given him work of that difficulty if he had been
placed in a self-contained room.
-Parent from Northern Kentucky
My daughter, Emi, is a typical teenager. She likes talking on the phone, shopping, and boys. She can be moody and bossy; pleasant and shy. She enjoys school; making all As and Bs. Her room is almost always messy and she is a bear to wake up in the mornings. But my daughter is a little different from most teenage girls. She has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. Her special education teacher, Cathy Davis, has acted as a liaison between Emi and the regular class teachers. She was able to effectively convey Emi's strengths and weaknesses. She knew Emi's work pace and adjusted her work accordingly. Emi has scored Distinguished on her eighth grade writing portfolio. She is an example of successful inclusion!
-Parent from Central Kentucky
