People with Disabilities
Rosa Marcelino
Living as someone with a disability is not easy. Whether you were born with your disability or acquired it later in life, it is something you must live with everyday. These people are constantly discriminated against. From children who are starting out in school to adults looking for and trying to maintain a job. Another struggle is for the families and parents of children with disabilities. Every parent wants the best for their children and to ensure them a great life, but for some this is not always easy.
Everyone has a right to equal opportunities. And those opportunities start in children and youth. Since the 1960s, there have been tons of federal legislation that relates directly or indirectly to individuals with disabilities, particularly children and youth. The IDEA or the Individual with Disabilities Education Act is one that plays and important role in those children’s lives.
Eight years ago a little girl came into this world. Beautiful, intelligent, happy little Rosa. Rosa was diagnosed with Down syndrome. Down syndrome a genetic condition in which a person has 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. Rosa’s form of Down syndrome is called Trisomy 21, this is when there is an extra copy of chromosome 21, and the extra chromosome caused problems with the way the body and the brain develop. From when Rosa was a baby she looked different, and acted different as well. Her family from early on decided they were never going to treat her different though, and this to me is why she is one of the brightest kids I have ever known.
Rosa and her family never had any issues until it was time for Rosa to go to school. She was always in special education programs and did things separate than the kids with out disabilities. When she was in first grade her parents were called to an IEP meeting and Rosa’s school. This was when everything changed. In special education there are eighteen different disability codes. These codes include emotional
Living as someone with a disability is not easy. Whether you were born with your disability or acquired it later in life, it is something you must live with everyday. These people are constantly discriminated against. From children who are starting out in school to adults looking for and trying to maintain a job. Another struggle is for the families and parents of children with disabilities. Every parent wants the best for their children and to ensure them a great life, but for some this is not always easy.
Everyone has a right to equal opportunities. And those opportunities start in children and youth. Since the 1960s, there have been tons of federal legislation that relates directly or indirectly to individuals with disabilities, particularly children and youth. The IDEA or the Individual with Disabilities Education Act is one that plays and important role in those children’s lives.
Eight years ago a little girl came into this world. Beautiful, intelligent, happy little Rosa. Rosa was diagnosed with Down syndrome. Down syndrome a genetic condition in which a person has 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. Rosa’s form of Down syndrome is called Trisomy 21, this is when there is an extra copy of chromosome 21, and the extra chromosome caused problems with the way the body and the brain develop. From when Rosa was a baby she looked different, and acted different as well. Her family from early on decided they were never going to treat her different though, and this to me is why she is one of the brightest kids I have ever known.
Rosa and her family never had any issues until it was time for Rosa to go to school. She was always in special education programs and did things separate than the kids with out disabilities. When she was in first grade her parents were called to an IEP meeting and Rosa’s school. This was when everything changed. In special education there are eighteen different disability codes. These codes include emotional
References: Shapiro, J.P. (1993). No Pity. New York. Three Rivers Press. Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)