What? In Times Of Hundreds Of "Isolated" Incidents, I Was Told That The Staff Was Expert

Many Florida teachers may be ill-equipped to handle special-needs students:

"Even teachers who earned degrees in education may have taken just one or two classes in special education, making them aware of their legal responsibilities but unsure of how to manage a class in which one child may not respond the way other children do."

"Scott said many teachers rely on 'old school' punitive methods of discipline, most of which don't work with special needs students, particularly those with autism who may miss social cues.
'You can't punish these kids into behaving well,' he said."

Imagine a pro-active parent such as myself, along with the assistance of a pro-active teacher, taking my deaf/blind kid to Florida State University to be evaluated by the leading expert in the education of deaf/blind students. Imagine the main reason this time and effort was done was so that we could share the results and the educational implications of this report with the staff that was unsure of how to manage a class which one child may not respond the way other children do.

Imagine the excitement that we had when we received the report and saw some of the same strategies that we had been trying to help the teacher and principal with.

Imagine the disappointment, frustration and later anger that we had when we were told by the school personnel that "Those are just recommendations. We don't have to do them."

The arrogance and ignorance of the system stifles the growth of the very teachers they depend on.