An Optimistic Attempt Validated

Let me preface this with a few facts so you can make sense of it.
1. Ricki finishes seventh grade in a week.
2. After the regular school year there is an added two-week day camp for a nominal fee.
3. Ricki can only attend the camp with an aide.
4. I want the city to pay for the aide, since the government gives them 11, not 10 months of “aide” fund.

My efforts to get Ricki to day camp were a bit harried. First, I had to get the aide to agree to continue another two weeks. Simultaneously, I had to get an explicit OK from city hall that they would pay the aide. They are VERY hard to reach by phone, and they kept saying “We will check and call you tomorrow. They didn’t, and I called every two days for a week. Finally yesterday they agreed. And the aide agreed as well. (She also asked me to let her “think about it and let you know tonight or tomorrow” ---for about a week…. ). So I immediately called the school to register her, and they said, “No, the registration is finished.” “Try in city hall.”
Immediately the pessimistic side of me (the side that went through two court cases for Ricki’s right to an inclusive education) kicked in:
“They delayed in city hall on purpose, to make it past the deadline for registration, so the city can pocket the money.”
Then my good inclination piped up:
“Who says? Check it out? Give the benefit of the doubt.” So I did. Today I traveled over to city hall, explained things, and had Ricki registered for day camp within five minutes. No fuss, no arguments, no problem. Gee, its NICE when people are accommodating!

A Word From a “Crazy Mom”

Someone who is trying to work and change things in the educational system here mentioned to a friend of mine the following, which my friend passed on to me. What is the tidbit? That in the corridors of our city’s educational branch, Rickismom is known to be “crazy”. They probably mean “fanatical” and “extremist”(about inclusion).
I am very passionate about inclusion, because I believe that for many children with Down syndrome, especially the high-functioning ones, it is the best choice. This is especially true due to the low expectations which our special ed schools have, and because of the tendency for kids with Down syndrome to be refused admission to classes for learning disabilities (even when these classes are the best “special ed” class for this child). Yet, in reality, I have often agreed with parents who are too poor and too overworked, that inclusion is not for them. (Since here in Israel there is NOT yet full governmental support for inclusion.)

So why am I “crazy”?
-I believe that my daughter can study and learn.
-I believe that she can learn reading, writing, and arithmetic.
-I believe that she can be taught to believe in her own self worth, even if sometimes people will stare at her.
-I believe that talking “down” to her is contrary to good education.
- I believe that conquering a challenge, on occasion, will make Ricki more happy in the long run than treating her like a child.
-I believe that her behavior, which has improved, can improve more.

In actuality, there is only one reason, in my mind, why I should be considered “crazy”: That I still believe that some of the officials in city hall are not there only for the money. That I believe that some of them will stop one day and listen. That I believe that change is possible.