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SPECIAL EDUCATION DAY: Special Educators Discuss Lasting Importance of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Johnston, SC – Special Education Day is observed each December 2nd to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) into law by President Gerald Ford on December 2, 1975. According to ed.gov, IDEA “makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children.”
A portion of the IDEA states the following:
Disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to participate in or contribute to society. Improving educational results for children with disabilities is an essential element of our national policy of ensuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.
Within the Edgefield County School District (ECSD), the Office of Exceptional Children (OEC), led by director Jerrilyn Johnson, ensures all Edgefield County children with special needs have equal access to public education and all services provided within the IDEA legislation. Students are served by a faculty and staff trained to provide quality instruction and assistance. Edgefield County special educators comprise a cohesive team of professionals who work collaboratively and individually to address the unique learning needs of students who qualify for services.
ECSD School Psychologists Yvette Davis and Keri Reames, Career/Transition Coordinator for Exceptional Children, Miesha Kingcannon, our school district’s Lead Speech Language Pathologist, Keelie Gossett, and Special Education Teacher, Amy Mims, all spoke recently about the lasting legacy of IDEA and its continued importance.
Their responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Looking back over the close to 50 years since IDEA was signed into law, what does IDEA mean to you?
ECSD School Psychologist, Keri Reames – For so long, students were expected to learn at the same rate, and if they could not they were segregated into separate schools or even institutionalized. IDEA recognized, for the first time, the differences among not just students with obvious disabilities, but differences in learning that many times is unseen at first glance. IDEA has given all students with disabilities access to general education, and recognizes the right of education for all students, no matter their learning ability, background, or culture.
ECSD School Psychologist, Yvette Davis – IDEA opened the door for everyone to have access to the same education. If our students are not given the same opportunities, they are not challenged. All students need the opportunity to learn, grow, and progress.
ECSD Career/Transition Coordinator for Exceptional Children, Miesha Kingcannon – IDEA levels the playing field for individuals with disabilities, and gives them an opportunity to be more successful in life.
ECSD Lead Speech Language Pathologist, Keelie Gossett – As a speech language pathologist, I am able to offer support and services to students ages three to 21 who have deficits in speech and/or language development that impacts educational performance.
ECSD Special Education Teacher, Amy Mims – IDEA provides the opportunity for everyone to learn and to be able to attend a public school for needed services. It also gives children with special needs the opportunity to learn alongside children without disabilities. Students who may learn differently are included and taught in a way that works for them.
Why do you feel it is important to commemorate and celebrate IDEA?
ECSD School Psychologist, Keri Reames – We need to be reminded that special education is a right not everyone previously had access to, and to take a moment to reflect on seeing how far we have come. It also allows us to take stock of how much work still needs to be done.
ECSD School Psychologist, Yvette Davis – We should celebrate the fact that IDEA gives all students the opportunity to live a prosperous life and afford the opportunities to thrive in our community and the world.
ECSD Career/Transition Coordinator for Exceptional Children, Miesha Kingcannon – There was a time in our history when those with disabilities were overlooked and not considered, and to have a law in place for them should be celebrated.
ECSD Special Education Teacher, Amy Mims – It is important to remember and celebrate IDEA for bringing educational opportunities to all students, and an education based on what each student needs. Before IDEA, many students with special needs were just not taught or could not even attend school due to their disabilities. Schools are now places where children are accepted as students, even if they learn differently, and that is absolutely something to celebrate. All children should be offered the chance to learn.
Could you speak about an individual student who, in your experience, has benefited greatly from IDEA?
ECSD Career/Transition Coordinator for Exceptional Children, Miesha Kingcannon – A student with Down Syndrome came to us on a non-diploma track and after testing her current levels and seeing how she adapted to the general education curriculum, our team determined to try the diploma track. The student successfully earned her diploma, and is now attending Clemson University in the Life Program. She was recently accepted to continue in the second portion of the program due to her success.
ECSD Special Education Teacher, Amy Mims – I taught a student with Down Syndrome some years ago. He was very bright, and had a family that fully supported his needs, and their ability to treat him as any other little boy was such a benefit for him, both as a child, and as a student. Even though he began his journey in a self-contained class, with the opportunities and services IDEA provides, he now attends a general education class with children his age and he works on many of the same skills and learning as they do.
ECSD Career/Transition Coordinator for Exceptional Children, Miesha Kingcannon – One of our students who was nonverbal as a young child, began receiving services as an elementary student. He was exceptional at football. He came to high school and as a senior, he came to me because he was nervous about using a computer. I used strategies with him in the classroom which helped him maintain his grade point average and which afforded him the opportunity to go to a two-year college on a full scholarship. He was then scouted by a four-year college for football, earned another full scholarship, and later earned an undergraduate degree.
When you reflect on the anniversary of IDEA, what gives you hope and encouragement for the future of serving our most exceptional students?
ECSD School Psychologist, Keri Reames – With IDEA as the foundation, it constantly pushes us to better serve our students, to continue to find the best ways to identify their needs, the best ways to intervene before services might be needed, and the best ways to provide therapy or instruction or support. We stay on the cutting edge of supporting our students with exceptionalities. These changes can be difficult at times, but we know the advances will improve the lives of our students.
ECSD School Psychologist, Yvette Davis – IDEA gives our students the opportunity to have a fulfilling life, and affords them opportunities for the future.
ECSD Lead Speech Language Pathologist, Keelie Gossett – As special educators, we continue to learn new ways to meet the needs of our students. Also, there are so many new resources available for our students in special education.
ECSD Career/Transition Coordinator for Exceptional Children, Miesha Kingcannon – My hope is that any and all discrimination of students with disabilities will be diminished even further over time.
ECSD Special Education Teacher, Amy Mims – I see a future with all children being taught and treated equally and accepted in schools. No exceptions. All exceptional!