Funding for Students with Disabilities in Our Public Schools (Not as it seems)

According to an article in the January edition of “Teaching Exceptional Students,” a well-respected peer-reviewed journal for educators, so many of the mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which is government mandated, are not really being funded by the federal government, leaving local districts and states to pick up the slack. 

This leaves many programs and resources either underfunded or non-existent.  Who pays the price? The students of course. It is one thing to mandate but another to provide the money and oversight to make sure that children with special needs are taken care of properly. 

I have seen this personally while coaching or doing professional development in the schools in the New York area, having had my child go through a suburban public school system.  In many places the teaching staff is under-prepared, the materials not present and Universal Design for Learning is completely overlooked. 

In some places this is due to lack of funds. In others there is a lack of awareness and willingness.  However, most administrations and educators want to do right by their students and help provide them with opportunities to succeed. This is impossible without adequate funding and training. 

We look at the drop-out rates and the ability to get higher education, vocational training or even low-level employment for students with disabilities and it is not encouraging. Surely our government can do better. These are all our children with tremendous potential and so much to offer our society. Let's not leave them behind.

—Dr. Carol K Kennedy, Ph.D.