- How would you support programs like Peer Buddies that find innovative ways to ensure that children with severe special education needs are integrated with their general education classmates even if they are pursuing an alternative curriculum?
Creating a diverse supportive educational setting composed of children with varying learning abilities is important for the social development of all children. Developing understanding and empathy for all the different ways of being and learning is essential to cultivate in schools. The benefits are great as children with special needs are integrated with students without special needs, the more they learn from one another and develop a culture of support and care. We deeply underestimate the empathy and compassion that children can develop and that can be nurtured in the early childhood and elementary years. This helps with eliminating the stigma of being a special needs child.
Children without special needs progress in social cognition and develop a greater understanding and acceptance of children with special needs and diversity as a whole, as a result of experiencing inclusive programming. Overall, the peer buddy system provides all children with a diverse stimulating environment in which to grow and learn.
- Do you commit to ensuring that all members of the staff at the Division of Special Education support children with moderate to severe special education needs and prohibit them from stigmatizing special day classes and special education centers?
There should be absolutely zero stigmas in regards to special day classes and special education centers. These special education spaces specialize to provide the care and education that children with moderate to severe special education needs require, particularly students in wheelchairs who require the assistance of an aide for body movement, communication, and all essential daily tasks. Professional development training for all staff that covers the anti-stigmatization of students with special needs should be expanded to include more proactive approaches to supporting children and their families.
- Do you commit to removing any targets limiting the number of children enrolled in special day classes?
I commit to removing any barriers and discriminatory processes that impede children with special needs from receiving the education and services they legally are entitled to. If the practice of limiting the number of children enrolled in special day classes is done to decrease the number of spaces available for students with special needs without any real reason, then that is a harmful and illegal practice that needs to cease. Many working and low-income parents with children with special needs face many challenges in obtaining the education and services necessary to address their children's needs. Limiting the number of children enrolled in special day classes place additional burdens on these families.
Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for students with special education needs and public education. He is an elected member of the Northridge East Neighborhood Council and serves as the Education Chair. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him "a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles." For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.
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