"Sometimes these so-called "short bus" kids, as a previous poster so quaintly put it, are from regular hard working families who deal with an incredibly difficult situation. Most of the posters on this site who have no one-on-one experience with these kids may want to stop with the generalizations."
Thank you. I happen to be one of those fathers. I really get tired of the "short bus" crack. My son was born with hydro-cephalus, at age eight he was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. Because of the hydro-cephalus he does not remember or retain information as easily as others. At age 12 he is doing 3-4th grade work.
He's a great kid. Kind and courageous (two, complete, reconstructive surgeries on both feet to keep him ambulatory--try that if you think you're hardcore). The only problem he has in school is the constant teasing and torment he sustains from so-called "normal" kids. As for the ADHD kids that he shares his special ed class with, some of the worst teasing comes from them.
Of all the crap he has had to go through, what breaks my heart the most is the teasing. That has cut him deeper than any surgeons knife.
There is a time and place for poking fun at people for the right reasons. There is never a place for it when the target is a handicapped child.
Next time anyone reading this post thinks a "short bus" remark or joke is funny, see if you can tell it while looking someone who rides that bus in eye.
He's a great kid. Kind and courageous (two, complete, reconstructive surgeries on both feet to keep him ambulatory--try that if you think you're hardcore). The only problem he has in school is the constant teasing and torment he sustains from so-called "normal" kids. As for the ADHD kids that he shares his special ed class with, some of the worst teasing comes from them.
Of all the crap he has had to go through, what breaks my heart the most is the teasing. That has cut him deeper than any surgeons knife.
I am very sorry for your son's disabilities. It sounds like school is helping him and he is learning.
I have a question for you and I absolutely do not mean to be cruel or insensitive. My question is: what is the point of spending taxpayer funds on a severely handicapped child that will never be able to work or be a productive citizen? (Hopefully your son will be a productive citizen.) I am directing this question to you because you have more insight into this than most of us will ever have.
I know an 18 year old boy with similar disablities as your son, just much more severe. He literally has a vocabular of about 20 words. His speech is so slurred it can only be recognized by family, he can't walk and has the I.Q. of a preschooler. Yet, he has been going to school for 10 or 12 years now, with almost no noticeable improvement. I also know of children with feeding tubes and respirators that are permanent; but, these kids are sent to school every day and exposed to all the germs and illnesses present in all schools. How does this help these severely disabled children and/or our society?
If this question hurts you or offends you in any way I sincerely apologize.