It is highly likely that you have encountered someone in your life with a disability you were completely unaware of. These conditions can take many forms, some so subtle that they go unnoticed. However, there is also the other end of the spectrum, where impairment has a higher influence on the way one lives. Every individual deserves to receive the treatment that is necessary for their well-being, as they are people just like you and me.
Many schools have has a special needs program, which is integral to a school’s community as some students may not be able to function to their best ability in a “regular” classroom setting. Every child deserves the same quality of education, no matter what form it may be in- whether it be frequent breaks in between lessons or hosting fun games during class time. Having a program that caters to a student’s needs greatly benefits and supports their future. By providing aid in not only academics but social skills, the world of special education will have a much brighter future.
Unfortunately, the reality is far from it. Approximately 93 million children worldwide are diagnosed with a form of disability, according to UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund). More than fifty-percent of them never go to school, depriving them of their opportunity for a better quality of life.
I had the pleasure of speaking with one of our special education managers for Monte Vista, Ms. Aberle. She starts off by responding to my question of how this program helps students transition into the real world. “We work a lot with this program called Workability, and they help bring internships and connect them [students] with job opportunities. It’s to acquire job skills since that are really important,” she continues, “And I also bring in speakers, so having people come in to talk about their different career paths gives really good insight.”
And that’s why this program is so important to the public. With this need comes a demand for sufficient contributions, especially money-wise. Aberle supports this idea as she goes on to explain how Monte Vista is the only high-school-level version of speprogram- serving every school in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. This creates more of a push for support and funding. “I think that there can always be additional financial assistance, especially for mental health services. Our school only has 2 full time psychologists that service all kids. At the same time I’m very thankful for what the district has done in adding more psych support” Aberle states. The fact that our district only has two psychologists shocks me. That seems very alarming to me. Increasing funding to help pay workers the wages they deserve could result in more people willing to lend a hand. While there are many areas where we could grow, there are also many aspects of special education where we have achieved.
Aberle also talks about her past experiences in the same field of work. “I worked in the Castro Valley Unified School District. They had many hands-on electives and classes more accessible to everyone. There was woodshop, autobody… but here, we’re lacking. I think that that is a huge hindrance to our students,” She concludes, “The fact is not everybody is going to go to a four-year college. There needs to be other outlets”. Every student holds a different future, and that needs to be respected and taken into consideration when choosing classes to implement in the school system.
On a good note, in recent years there have been notable changes in California’s perspective towards special education programs. The state budget was expected to provide $1 billion in funding in 2021. More than half is used to support current special needs efforts. This is more than any other state in America. However, despite this substantial funding, schools need to utilize this financial support to improve support for education rather than for programs with ample funding already, such as sports. If successful, this should lead to better education rather than further division of the student body. Schools need to concentrate on staff training, hiring more employees, and creating more spacious and inviting learning areas. Furthermore, school’s should be creating organized and controlled environments in order to make the most of this financing.
