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Here are your three disability-related links for Thursday, June 6, 2024.
1. Students with special needs forced to sit in hallway while Cobb classmates had graduation
Michele Newell, WSB-TV - May 31, 2024
Source: Rebecca Cokley on Facebook
“Ashlynn Rose Rich told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell that after four years of being an athlete and honor student at Sprayberry High School, she had to sit in a hallway during her graduation … “I feel depressed and upset for graduation, for the whole ceremony,” Rich said … The ceremony was held at Kennesaw State University. Rich was allowed to cross the stage when her name was called, but was then escorted back to the hallway, according to her mother.”
2. Graduation Gone Wrong
Grace Dow, Grace Dow Writes - May 29, 2024
“Lee says they were told they had to sit in the bleachers for the ceremony. They couldn’t walk to get their diplomas unless a nurse was present. Unfortunately, despite her best efforts, that is what happened on graduation day. Lee considered boycotting the ceremony, but decided not to … “It really hurt that I was not given these same opportunities as my other classmates, and my entire high school career has not been normal,” she says. “So I just wanted one night to be a normal student and be treated like a normal student, and that was robbed of me.””
3. A special second-chance prom crowns the second season of this Very Local feel-good favorite
LeeAnn Huntoon, NBC 5 - June 4, 2024
“Watch as people come together with different abilities to celebrate life with a second-chance prom in New Hampshire. A surprise promposal and a crown cause a few tears and so much more.”
Rather than pick over the specifics of each of these articles, let’s take a step back and marvel at the fact that there are still school that think it’s acceptable to segregate disabled students from the rest of their classmates at the most significant and emotionally resonant moments of their final public education year — graduation an the prom. Whether segregated intentionally or by neglect, for the sake of some outdated idea of “appearances” or because of overwrought notions of health and safety, these schools think it’s okay to offer half experiences or “special” events just for disabled students as some kind of compromise or sop. There are more substantive arguments to be had about the exact nature of inclusion in the actual education part — lectures, homework assignments, tests, and the like. But you would think it would be easier to accommodate all students at these purely symbolic, ceremonial, and social events. Apparently not.
Disability Thinking Weekday is a Monday-Friday newsletter with links and commentary on disability-related articles and videos.
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I would request help from staff in THIS specific situation. Since you mention that it will likely be undergraduates, give them an opportunity to meet you, interact with, and learn from you. Great educational opportunity!
Also, you can interact with old friends without the complication of asking for help.
Really, though, I think both options are viable.
Hope you have a great time!!!!
When I'm traveling, I tend to go by "you get what you pay for," so I look for services at my accommodations first, rather than friends or family, since I'm paying for it already. That said, most often those closest to me end up helping me.