TESTIMONY

I became a graduate from the Partners on Policy Making Class, 2013. To graduate, I needed to present testimony. This is my testimony on disability education (slightly edited).

My name is MS and I am so glad that you are here to share this special day with me, because today is my birthday. And, because it is my birthday, I will be able to make a wish tonight when I blow out my candles. I know we are supposed to keep our birthday wishes secret, but I am going to make a special exception and share my birthday wish with all of you.

Before I make my wish, I am going to tell you a story.

Back in September, I was sitting on the playground watching my son play while chatting with the other moms. We were taking part in the September ritual of comparing our children's new teachers. My child had been given the teacher with the mean reputation.  The mom next to me said the only thing that was important to her was that her children not be put in the inclusion class. I nodded, and asked her more about why she made this choice. She said she didn't want her children to think that they might become like "one of them."  I thought about my own "one of them's". My lovely, daughter who has ADHD and Dyslexia. We were so happy to have her in inclusion. In fact, that was our aspiration. But, over the years, I have met many of these moms and dads that fear being near my child and children with disabilities. These are not moms and dads that are uneducated, racist or mean, just uninformed and inexperienced. They believe that if their child is near my child, their child might catch her disease or be hurt by her. I have heard it all since no one would ever know by looking at my daughter that she has a disability. I have been told the class will go slower if children with disabilities are placed with typical kids. I have been told that the children with disabilities will bully the typical kids. I have been told that the teachers won't pay attention to the typical children because they will need to pay attention to all those kids with special needs.

Can I tell this mom that approximately 12 percent of kids in the school have IEP's and it is very likely her child is playing with "one of those" right now? Can I tell her that her children may not need inclusion now, but in the future, she may find herself in a different set of circumstances? Can I tell her that Michael Phelps, Chuck Close, Steven Spielberg and Whoopi Goldberg all have either learning, mobility or developmental disabilities and are open about their struggles. Yes, I can say all of this, but I am only reaching one person.

I am here to advocate for the mandated teaching of disability history, including programs that demystify what it means to have and live with a disability. Every school should have curriculum devoted to the history of disability and the day-to-day reality of living with a disability. They should have curriculum that teaches respect for all people including those with different abilities. They should have a curriculum that discusses inclusion in school, in work and in the community. We have come a long way in our country in moving towards a more equal society. But, it seems that equality for those of differing abilities is lagging behind the progress of other groups looking for respect and equality. We have disability law, to make those laws effective, we need disability education.

So, let me tell you my birthday wish. I want everyone here. I want everyone in my town and state to recognize my daughter as an equal member of our society. I want her neighbors to see her as a young lady, not a child to be feared. I want moms and dads around the state to want their children to be in the classroom with my daughter and with all children that enhance our world with their different abilities. I want a mom to come up to me and say, I want my child in the inclusion class. I want my child to sit next to your child. I want my child to learn from your child. My child has so much to offer.

So, let's educate, let’s inspire, let's bring the message to our schools, Teach us. Teach us to understand and respect all people that share this earth.  Let us all be part of the same community.

I want to thank everyone that has come here today to share my birthday. Please, make my wish come true. Because if my wish comes true, my daughters wish comes true. The wishes of many families come true. Everyday, someone with a disability has a birthday and someone without a disability has a birthday. Already, they have something in common.