An Open Letter to Special Needs Parents
“With LIBERTY and JUSTICE for all…”
This final line of the Pledge of Allegiance should serve as a reminder of what we, as Americans, are fighting for. And as we talk about liberty, justice, and equal rights, we often think in terms of race and gender. And yet, society often misses one of the biggest pieces in regards to civil rights. And that’s individuals with disabilities.
Even today, in 2019, state-of-the-art buildings with budgets of upwards of $40 million are being built that are not fully accessible to individuals with disabilities. Even worse, when most people think about “accessibility” they think building a wheelchair ramp is enough. But we need so much more than that. America needs a paradigm shift in the way we view individuals with disabilities, special needs, and exceptionalities.
The World Health Organization has stated that disability is a natural part of human existence. That it is not our job to fix anyone but to support them and to develop full accessibility in the world. As an occupational therapist, I am a civil rights advocate. I fight for every one of my students to ensure they receive the free and appropriate public education that they are entitled to as American citizens. I have said this in many meetings, “I am not on the school’s side, or the parents’ side, or my company’s side. I am (always and forever) on the child’s side”. Everything I say and recommend is to support what is best for my students.
There is a national push for inclusion in our public schools, that children with disabilities deserve more than to be stuck in a class at the back of the school. That kids with disabilities deserve more than to be present. They deserve to be engaged. They deserve to participate. They deserve to socialize and to experience the school as a whole with their “typical peers”. As an occupational therapist, I have a unique view. We use a holistic approach with the students on our caseload. We’re not just “fine motor people”, no, we’re looking at them in the context of their environment. Every element of education, from their classwork to their extracurriculars, are being examined. And we are constantly evaluating how we can best support them in those environments.
This is a letter to all the parents I have worked with, and all the parents I will work with in the future. To let you know that I am not in this for myself. That I am in this to advocate for your kids, to fight for what is right and what they need. I am here to fight for all the services that your child is eligible for and entitled to. Please understand that it is our duty to advocate for our students.
Civil Rights go beyond more than just race and gender. Unfortunately, individuals with disabilities are often at the bottom of the list for policymakers. And so, it is our responsibility as therapists to constantly push for equal access for our students, regardless of the level of function or disability. In my years as a school-based therapist, I have seen miracles happen because of strong advocates for the child. Advocates who push against the status quo.
“All men are created equal” is a guiding principle behind our Constitution. And yes, there is much debate as to the intentions of the original writing. But we still live by that truth today. It is a guiding principle behind every single civil rights campaign that human beings are equal. We have to understand that the world of disability is about so much more than fixing people. It’s about building them up. It’s about helping to shape the world so that they can access it. Not shape the individuals to what the world views as a “cultural norm”.
It is a tumultuous time for occupational therapists, not just in my state, but throughout the country. Insurance providers are changing the way they reimburse therapies and schools are examining our roles on the IEP team. But I would challenge every parent and educator to find a profession better suited to advocate for a child with a disability. Occupational therapists are client-centered, evidence-based practitioners who don’t just help improve the skills of an individual, but provides the appropriate accommodations and environmental modifications to allow that child to thrive.
This is a battle cry not just for parents, but for therapists. A reminder that we are civil rights advocates. We are here, not just to help improve the skills of a student, but to fight for what they deserve. Brave men and women throughout history have fought and died for this country, for freedom, liberty, truth, and justice. And these ideas that have been at the heart of every single American to lay their life on the line aren’t just for the able-bodied but for every single soul in America. And that includes your child. Let us not forget that. Let us march forward. Let us fight for equal rights for all.
