ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 24, 1997 TAG: 9702240008
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
The parents of children with disabilities want Roanoke County school officials to prepare a detailed plan with timetables for responding to recommendations by the county's Special Education Advisory Committee.
Denise Swanson said the parents won't accept the excuse that budget pressures will prevent the schools from meeting all of the committee's requests for improvements to the special education program.
The committee has recommended mandatory background checks on teacher's aides and paraprofessionals, higher salaries and better fringe benefits for aides and the inclusion of more children with disabilities in regular classrooms.
"The budget will always be tight," Swanson told the School Board. "The requests would not be in the report if they were not unmet."
In a written response to the recommendations, Superintendent Deanna Gordon and Carol Whitaker, director of pupil personnel services and special education, said budget pressures could affect the county's plans.
But Swanson, the mother of a special education child, said the parents are looking to board members for a commitment to meet the requests.
"I suggest that you take the report and develop a plan of action," she said. "If we had a plan, I think more people would feel better about it."
Because of Thursday night's snow, the board postponed consideration of the report until its next meeting.
The committee wants the schools to take a more aggressive approach to placing children with disabilities in regular classes. It has recommended that the county hire an experienced inclusion specialist to help accomplish this goal.
The committee's report said research shows that children with disabilities benefit from being in regular classes. Non-disabled students also can benefit from the improved instructional techniques for classes with both types of students, the report said.
The advisory committee has recommended that the county prepare a comprehensive inclusion plan within 12 months and implement it within three years.
School officials should work with parents and students in an educational campaign to create a "positive climate" in the schools for inclusion, the report said.
"Testimonials from administrators, teachers, parents and students who are currently working and learning in inclusive classrooms in Roanoke County should be part of this educational effort," the committee said.
In their response, Gordon and Whitaker said the schools will continue their efforts to build a climate for inclusion through training sessions for teachers, seminars and examination of options in the placement of students.
The committee said the county has provided inclusive programs for a few students at some schools, but many children with disabilities are not offered inclusion as an option. It added that some children who are in regular classes are not receiving support services.
It wants the county to require training for all regular classroom teachers in the care of children with disabilities.
The committee has also recommended that funding be provided for a year-round, community-based instruction program for children with disabilities. It wants the county to provide more services to help special education students make the transition from school to a job.
Schools have also been urged to keep records on children with special handling needs to be consulted if their aides are ill or absent.
LENGTH: Medium: 67 linesby CNB