When I attended school. one of my favorite activities besides music class was going on field trips.
School field trips were fun because they typically involved going somewhere that was going to be exciting like a museum, pumpkin patch or to see a play.
The night before a field trip, I would pick out a special outfit to wear and talk about it all night long to my siblings, The Super Coopers. To say I was geeked to go on a school field trip is an understatement.
As a child, I would’ve been extremely hurt if I had arrived at school on the next day only to find out I couldn’t go on the field trip that I had been highly anticipating. I would have been even angrier if the reason that I couldn’t go on the field trip was because I had a disability.
This is where this post goes to the left.
In recent news, I learned a student was denied access of going on a field trip because he was autistic.
Now, some people may argue the point that, some with autism have behavior outburst and very low attention spans therefore they shouldn’t be allowed to go on field trips.
For others who are advocates like myself, I believe in full inclusion when it comes to going on field trips or any place else.
By no means am I naive to the fact that some people with autism have behavioral outbursts and low attention span, but so do others who aren’t autistic. This is a big world, and the one fit all notion, just doesn’t work for everyone. Therefore, we need to be creative in our attempt to make sure everyone is included.
You ask, what does that look like?
Perhaps, two paraprofessionals who the student knew well needed to accompany the student. Maybe, a parent, sibling, or relative should have gone on the field trip? Or maybe someone could’ve have taken the student on the field trip in the vehicle that he liked riding in or even a deal could’ve been made to offer a reward for good behavior when he returned. My point is sometimes there needs to be some out of the box thinking to accomplish full inclusion, but if it’s your mission, it can be done.
In my opinion, no child should be denied from going on a field trip unless it’s because the reason being is life threatening. At no time should a child be denied of going on field trip because he or she has a disability. That’s just absurd and discrimination to the highest form in my book.
So here we are. My question is, what can be done so this will never happen to another child? Things that tend to happen to you in your childhood tend to impact you later in life. Let us advocate to rectify situations like this so children will continue to forge towards their future with vision of possibilities instead of a bunch of roadblocks.
Yeah, wow, that’s utter bee ess. Not sure where this story is based, but I am first-hand familiar with what a super poor job schools do with providing for inclusion of students with disabilities in these instances. I don’t discount at all the tremendous pressure and lack of resources available for districts. But it’s true how easily these students are dismissed as a burden or families left to advocate for their children without assistance. It’s a disappointment all around.
A very nice blog Shari!! I absolutely agree everyone should be allowed to have the same opportunities. It’s important for us to be advocates for individuals with disabilities, especially because some individuals are unaware of programs and services available.
I agree you 100%! We, as a society, should be farther along the path to inclusion than this. Disappointing that this is even being considered for any student with a disability. Leaving someone behind should not cross anyone’s mind. “How do we make this work?” is the only question to entertain.
Bravo, Shari! I highly agree with you this student should be allowed to go on the field trip. The school personnel should think outside the box and figure out what accommodations on the field trip “would make it happen” for this student to be included in the exciting experience. As for me, the school I went to did not offer many field trips and so this was a disappointment.
As usual an excellent blog. Your suggestion and remedies for this child to be included were perfect.
Great subject to bring up Shari! This is definitely a problem all over the world. This is also happening at schools,group home and even workshops etc. I agree it definitely does something to your mental when you tell somebody they can’t go somewhere they was looking forward to. This is definitely something that needs to be talked about more . Great blog Shari!
Mel, Matthew, Bonnie, Mary Ellen, Connie, and Victor,
Thanks for all the comments regarding this topic. It’s great to see that others are as passionate about inclusion as I am.
Thank you all for sharing