Submitted by: redhotsal

I have a number of friends with children with special needs. One of them has moved her entire family twice just to be in the 'right' district. First, she moved from Shrewsbury to Kirkwood for the Special School district. I will spare you the COUNTLESS injustices dealt her from the incompetent teachers and directors of her first child's education. Then, a couple of years later, she moved her family to Clayton at great expense--financially, emotionally, personally. (One of her children who is typically developed was uprooted in this process as well.)

Wouldn't it have been better for this family simply to be able to choose the best educational offering for their children and just send them there and not have to uproot the whole family for the benefit of just the one child?

BTW--things have been great in Clayton for the 1st child. So now the Mother can focus on the child's abilities, not problems and obstacles.

HOWEVER, she has two special needs kids to be concerned about, who is to say that what is right for one is right for the other? These children have different needs and abilities.

Currently, St. Vincent's takes St. Louis' behavior disorder students in a school choice-like setup. This is great in many ways, except that autism, for example, is a spectral disorder that can range from functional to borderline to severe. Some therapy that is good in some cases is not for others. Wouldn't it be great if parents of autistic children (or any special needs children) had a choice about what school would best help them? Wouldn't it be great if a school could focus--specialize--on one or a few special needs areas and DO IT RIGHT than having to address all possible needs that may come through the door in any given year?! No wonder we are failing--this is an impossible burden placed on our schools!

I know of folks in my elementary school and others that have lied about their zip-code just to get a decent education for their kid(s)--they are all from the city (St. Louis)!! (These are typical kids--not 'special'.)

There is clearly something wrong with the system that is in place and I for one would like to see better choices that don't force families to destabilize in the hope of securing a better future for their children.