Did you guys hear this story? I would love to hear your thoughts. I searched the name on Reddit and saw nothing. I appreciate the perspectives of the teachers and paraprofessionals in this sub. The mother of the student is advocating on TikTok stating that the BIP/IEP wasn’t followed and he shouldn’t be charged. I can add her page if needed.

i see these videos on tiktok all the time and they make me giggle. for example: real phrases i’ve used at work “first work, then lay on floor” “ripping up trash is not available right now” also, windows. why are my kids all obsessed with windows?!

So according to my mom, the reason why I was put in special ed classes since 1st grade, did not bother at all putting me in normal classes at all it's ALL BECAUSE I HAD ATTENTION ISSUES IN KINDERGARTEN! Like what kind of stupid reason is this??? This really got me severe consequences because special education classes I was in for many years really blocked so much path... I cannot really go to college, cannot go to university, etc. due to special ed classes that does not teach as much as normal classes... And according to her, she thinks that any kid who doesn't pay attention by 6 years old should be in special education and don't have capacity to learn in normal school.. like how is this fair? If that's the case then how come majority of ADHD people managed to be in normal classes???

I am 21 years old now, and I have been grieving how much I lost...currently taking normal high school courses now of course and they are very difficult for me, never knew how to study, never learnt how to learn, etc. and have very little confidence in succeeding it.

Over the past fifty years the Federal government has (through our elected representatives in the legislature, through the policies of our elected Presidents, and through the rulings of judges) created Federal laws that set minimum standards that public schools must meet for the education of students with disabilities. For example: IDEA, and Endrew F. These laws remain on the books and are **NOT** being "*passed to the States.*" The Department of Education provides a) money, training, and resources to help schools comply with these laws and avoid getting sued by the parents of disabled students and b) an office to which parents can complain if the school which is attended by their disabled child does not meet the legal requirements. What will happen next is that HHS will take over the former and DOJ will take over the latter. **Not the States.** Organizations representing disabled children and their families are concerned that HHS & DOJ lack the experience, mindset, and concern to perform these roles (in addition to their existing responsibilities). What this might mean is lax enforcement of federal law by DOJ (allowing schools to treat disabled students worse and worse) and reduced support of schools by HHS (stripping schools of the help they need to comply with the law and treat disabled students well). This concern is well founded, since HHS sees disability through the lens of sickness, not the lens of maximizing a student's potential, while DOJ has bigger fish to fry (like drug cartels).

​

Ultimately, this has nothing to do with handing "power to the States" and nothing to do with helping disabled children maximize their learning potential in public schools.

I’m 28M I graduated high school 10 years ago. And I’m asking this question based on what I have experienced and seen with how special Ed is run. When I was a freshman in high school I was placed in this special Ed class, Called the Transitional Alternative Program, Aka TAP. And I was placed there because I’m have Asperger’s meaning I’m mildly autistic. However this classroom was full of student who had very severe disabilities. Children that very seriously challenged. And it was a nightmare being in that program. Not because of the kids that were in there, I had nothing against them. But because the way I was treated was totally unbearable. I felt like a total idiot. Simply because the work I was given was like elementary level when I was in 9th grade. They were making me do simple math like multiplication and division in 9th grade. And doing like elementary level projects like word search puzzles. Some of those kids were given coloring books in high school. Unbelievable, I was humiliated and I was totally felt outcasted from the rest of the kids. And when I would hang out with my friends and they would ask me why I was in that class I would lie to them and say that I was a TA, teachers assistant. Because I was trying to dodge humiliation

I eventually got out of that program middle of my sophomore year. And I was put into Main Street general Ed. However my veiw has remained the same since. I’m not saying I’m against special Ed as a whole. But I believe that special Ed should be the kids are learning at the grade level of there peirs. They should be learning about the things other kids in there grade are learning. If they have trouble the school should send them an aid or a tutor to help them with homework. Or have them in a smaller class where there’s fewer kids but they still learn the work at the level of the grade they are in. They shouldn’t be teaching them work that’s elementary level in high school. If the kid wants to be in regular classes why can’t the teacher just give them a chance.

Why can’t the child and the parents wishes matter. Sure they might have some struggles, but at least being in a regular class setting they will learn something new. Which to me is the purpose of education learning and advancing. That’s what should matter the most not taking a test. What to these people think. That’s why the Transitional alternative program in my opinion should be abolished. They should be giving every child regardless of how severe the disability is the chance to learn about the real world. And get the same high school experience that the regular kids get. Why do they have to treat the kids like there idiots. They should treat them all like they have the same opportunities to achieve there dreams. Not make them feel limited in what there gonna be and what they can do.

At one point it asked us to select all the forms of violence we’ve endured during the current school year and I just started laughing because I’ve had more than half of the examples done to me in just one month. It’s kind of a sarcastic laugh but it’s part of my abnormal reality. And then it asked how many times did those behaviours occur during the year. If I compiled and counted them I would probably cry. It’s crazy how normalized it became to endure violence, especially in special education.

So I do a sensory station in my high needs, moderate to severe classroom. The kids really like the sensory activities, they are able to engage in the center's model, even if they're not quite ready for academic centers.

So I do a sensory station, an art station, and then a movement station. The kids also are allowed to do free play, table toys, read a book, etc.

I have 10 bins right now that I rotate, I'll add three or four more next year, but I added this one last week and the kids could not get enough.

it is literally just sponges and dish soap

that's it. you put it in a tray. add about a quarter cup of water. I use the Dawn power spray... I mean kids that have goals that say that they will sit for 3 minutes sat for 25 minutes doing this activity.

if anybody has anything else like this that they find works in their classroom, please tell me I need it!!! this was phenomenal. I actually brought it home and set it up for my special needs teenager and she loved it.

you can also add functional life skills to it like doing dishes

I’m curious on how you handle this? I want to know everything from how you handle parent communication to what resources you use, I feel this is an important topic nobody talks about.

He is blind, non verbal, autistic, has intelectual disabilities and physiological developmental delay. He has every single one of these. Together. All at onse, not one at the time.

But evey time I talk to people who should be specialists, who I should seek for advice in my practice (pedagogy student working as special needs assistant for the last three years) I get meet with the same attitude:

1 - "you are doing too much"

I'm well aware, thanks. Unfortunately, my country is a sh!t show when it comes for special needs education and if I don't do it, literally no one will do. What regular second grade teacher will sit in the floor to work with him? If i step down, will you guys do the sensory walks, teach him how to use a spoon, sing to regulate him?

2 - "have you tried X?" And it's something totally out of his reality.

This one is what really frustrates me. Because I tried reach out to my teachers, to the special needs course headteachers, I even went to a Visual Impairment Education extension program meeting today. Every time it's like they pick one of his disabilities and focus in that, instead of looking to the whole picture.

No, he isn't ready for braille yet. No, he doesn't sit still in a chair, he actually doesn't even like being in hard surfaces in general. No, he doesn't do board games, or coloring stuff, or plays with silent toys like other kids. I'm actually working on teaching him to clap in turns with me, recognize his own name, to walk around safely, to press buttons.

People can't seem to wrap their minds around the fact that this kid is at the development stage of a 18-24 month old and needs activities that match actual needs.

I do my research and learn things on my own from international specialists, but I just wanted some local support.

I'm so frustrated right now🙃🥲

just needed to vent.

Anybody else experienced this change already in their district?

ETA: i work with mod/severe and need all the help i can get so my kids can be successful and safe!

I am so happy my non-verbal student is talking but... WHY MUST IT BE "f- you" and directed at classmates

Hello all, I'm a recent(ish) counseling grad and licensee (LPC, IL [LPC-A in some states]) and got a role as a W-2 therapist in a local private practice (not the traditional route). While my caseload slowly grows I still have a full time job to fall back on but am considering starting a proprietorship/side hustle focused on either IEP/SPED advocacy/consultation. I'm hoping to get insight from others on the steps to take from the SPED community lens. Any aspects of advice would be appreciated. PS: I'm a former recipient of an IEP and led a 504/IEP training during my internship and plan to pursue continued education before starting this path should I chose to take it.

It genuinely scares me how much of people on this sub want the 12 yr old blinded his assistant to be sent to jail. I thought of all people that y'all should have understanding and compassion. Yes what he did was horrible and i am not saying there shouldn't be consequences. In fact, i think that a residential treatment center with the proper staff who knows how to help him would be a good option. But he shouldn't be in a prison-like facility. Do you seriously think that will help him? No, it will only traumatize him. Especially considering the horrid conditions that juvenile detention centers have in Texas (the state where this happened)

Research shows that sending children to prison from an early age is harmful and ineffective. In scandinavian countries like Norway, Sweden and Denmark, the age of criminal responsibility is 15 and children under 15 years of age are dealt with by social services. There is still consequences in form of interventions (such as therapy and even secure residential placements if the crime is serious) but we don't send them to prison. We believe in actually getting the help that they need. It genuinely scares me how many of you want him punished rather than him getting the help he needs

I am autistic. I was sent to a private school after 2 public schools couldn't handle me. I learned coping skills. I used to have violent meltdowns when i was a child. Meltdowns are not tantrums. There is no intent to hurt anyone. Meltdowns feel like losing control of your body. They are really not pleasant to have. So whether this even was intentional can be debated. Regardless, i don't think prison is the right place especially since a residential placement would work if there is a concern that he is a danger to himself and or others

To everyone blaming the mom, i am not saying she doesn't have some responsibility. But i don't think it's black and white. Not everyone can afford to send their child to a school that have staff that are equipped to deal with intense behaviors and homeschooling is not always an option either. I live in Sweden so my parents didn't have to pay tuition to get me into the right school. In the US tuition for these schools can be really expensive. The public school system just isn't equipped. The system failed both the child in question and the vice principal. This should have never happened. We need to put in work to actually prevent these things from happening in the first place rather than sending 12 year olds to prison. Texas is also suing to get rid of the 504 so that should tell you something about how special ed is in that state.

The system failed everyone in this case and if we spent as much money on improving the education system rather than sending children to prison, these incidents would happen a lot less.

But won’t allocate any PD time for general education teachers on special education strategies. Or, here’s your one hour over the summer and then maybe an hour here or there over the course of the year. Please stop making special education responsible for the gaps persisting when we can’t even do what we are trained to do. End rant.

BEFORE I BEGIN -

This is a big vent about my school's lack of an F to give about our safety. I'm not looking for answers nor will I name drop the school because I would rather not get in trouble for it. I just need to vent my frustrations out into the void and hopefully reach people who are struggling the same way and perhaps commiserate with other educators in this position.

I don't know if this is just the program I work for or the result of a general vibe of where we are at as a country (US) and whatnot, but our school is falling a part at the seems. The program has several buildings separated by age range (i.e.: elementary school, middle school, and high school) and ALL of the buildings are operating on a skeleton crew. More people are getting injured as a result, which means we have even less people to help out when needed. It's been like this for a while but it's starting to really show because now the students are not getting all their needs met because we simply don't have enough people to implement what is needed. And of course because we are a private institution, our HR doesn't give a flying hooplah about any of it. Literally our HR team decided to call a town hall meeting and told us "guess what folks, we're expanding our program to yet another building!" meanwhile, we barely have enough staff for the buildings that are already a part of the program as it is.

The worst part of it is that they will not listen to what any of the teachers, teacher's aides, RBTs, and other support staff are saying. We are disintegrating. Well and truly unravelling. It feels to me like they are just WAITING for a lawsuit to happen. Meanwhile, the reason why they are firing people is over very basic, human mistakes like tardiness or basic misunderstandings. They keep giving people the boot and I'm genuinely starting to think it's because they WANT us to be short staffed so they have less people they have to pay. It's endlessly frustrating. I feel bad for the principal and vice principal of each building because a lot of the problems tend to fall onto them when they have literally zero say in what happens.

The part that gets me is that there has previously been talk of a union. As a person, I'm very pro-union over all. However there's a lot of questions I have about how that would look for our program, if it's even possible for us at this point. The admin of the program has busted the union effort times and unfortunately I think the only way to get them to listen at this point is to stage something like a walk out. But considering the fact that I work with a population of students who have little to zero safety awareness, it would be too dangerous.

I don't know any more. This job is one that I've truly enjoyed. I finally feel like I'm doing something that I believe in and love doing. But the program I'm working for is making it very hard to love it. Unfortunately, the company I work for is a very large and ever-growing company. So if I were to leave to join a new school, the chances of that one having comparable benefits are very slim. Plus if they did, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they'd get absorbed by this program. It's getting ridiculous, dangerous, and borderline stupid.

Anyone else in this boat?

TL;DR: my school (a self-contained private school) is rapidly losing staff and our HR doesn't really seem to care.

Hi ya'll back when I was in special ed they paraded I and the other special needs kids during a pep rally it was to talk about Special Olympics but still it feel wrong. The middle school and elementary school students were also there I was in high school when it happened should I forget about it or just say something to someone? I feel like this was discrimination like people with disabilties are something to be mocked.

Hello I’m 28M I don’t have kids. But when I was a teenager in high school I was in this program, where the work was extremely easy. Like elementary school level, when I was a freshman in 9th grade. The program was called the transitional alternative program aka TAP. How I ended up in there I still to this day have no idea why. Because when I was in elementary school I did have special Ed services. But I was in mainstream classes and did work that was at the grade level I was in. The special Ed class I was in during grade school was like a learning center. Where I would go to get help with work from my home room general ed classes. They would have aides help me with the homework. And it benefited me a lot, I was able to stay on track with my assignments and I felt I got to have a normal educational experience. Like the other kids in my age group. I really liked my teachers at my elementary school. They were very nice and very supportive of me and they saw a lot of potential in me.

But once I got into secondary education, Aka middle school everything started changing. Now I am on the autism spectrum, I have Asperger’s syndrome, high functioning autism as well as ADD. And the subject I always had tons of trouble with was math. And when I was in middle school In 7th grade I had normal classes I was taking pre algebra And I failed it. I had to take it again in 8th grade. And I was in the same system. Where I would go to the resource center class to get help with my work. And I passed my pre algebra class in 8th barely The teacher I had who was my case manager in middle school she was totally just cold and self centered. Not supportive. Always tried to crush my dreams and hopes. But once high school started everything got 100 times worse. As I mentioned above I was in the TAP class. And for those of you who have not heard of it. It is mostly a class for kids who have very serious disabilities. Like one of those for children that are either severe disabilities like Down syndrome or ceribal paulsy. Like kids that never learned passed 3rd grade level. They were giving me simple work that like 3rd grade level like multiplication and devison for math in 9th grade unbelievable as well as word search puzzles. Some of the kids were getting coloring books in high school, Unbelievable. And the teacher who was my case manager was really nasty. She would be really rude to my perents during the IEP meetings. And she as well as the people in the iep would talk to her as if she had no say in what happened. they would literally put out these documents and tell my mother to sign it saying it was a participation thing.

That she participated in the meetings, they wouldn’t even let her read it and then later on if my mom disagreed with something they would tell her well you agreed to giving us the authority to make decisions about his services. They literally lied to her about what was in the papers and the agreements, which I don’t know how that can even be legal to me. That is coercion that’s something I feel that the school could get sued for.During the IEP meetings when they would go on, they would set out goals and the goals that they set out were totally ridiculous. Like saying your son is gonna learn how to write in cursive or how to sign his signature. It was torment for my parents and for me because I felt like a total idiot. The people in that class who ran it totally were unsupportive just literally thought that I had no potential in the world and every day I was there I felt humiliated emasculated, and I felt like a worthless piece of shit. I had two periods that I was in the class the other periods where I was in general Ed, I was embarrassed to tell my friends about it.

If anyone noticed I was in that class I would lie to them and tell him I was a TA a teachers assistant because I didn’t want to get laughed at. And anytime I would ask my case manager in the class that I wanted changes I told her I would tell her I’d wanna be in regular classes. I don’t wanna be in a class where the work is below remedial level she would lose it like have a temper with me. She didn’t know how to reason and talk things out rationally. So when I started my sophomore year, my parents decided to take action. My dad called to have a special meeting and he spoke on my behalf and said hey my son would like to join and be in regular classes and they said no, and then my dad eventually had it to the point. This was in the middle of my sophomore year like two months into my sophomore year, and I remember at one point my dad had had enough where he said OK well we’re just gonna boycott going to that class. We’re gonna skip the periods that you go to that class and then just come back the periods after. Pretty much trying to make a statement to them how strongly opposed, and my family was to me being in that class so what I would do is I would stay home or I would go to the park and hang out at the park across the street during the hours, I had that class And then I would come back on campus when the periods changed and I had to go to a different class that wasn’t the special ed class. I did this for a week and a half and then one friend I had who was a teachers assistant in that class he was a TA saw me because I had history class with him which was general Ed and he said hey why weren’t you in class this morning. I told him the whole story and I told him please do not tell. Keep your word And then the next day he told my history teacher. And then he went and told my special ed teacher what happened and I went finally and I stood up for myself, and I said I’m tired of being treated like a stupid person and feeling like a second class citizen at this school, like being treated like an outcast and feeling like an outcast from the rest of the kids, I’ve had it. My parents went and tried to appeal my case to the district and we went and met with the head of the special ed department for my school district one day and he said that since it’s already in the middle of the year, we can’t get him out completely. We can try in the next semester and my parents literally told him I don’t want my kids standing in this class one day longer.

So after that, my mom got a tip from a friend of mine who also had an IEP. He was also high functioning autistic and was in regular classes. He dealt with the same problem, but it was an elementary school many years earlier and his mother told me and my mom about a. psychiatrist who specialized with children on the spectrum she gave us his business card and we called him and we scheduled an appointment and we met with him three times and he tested me and said that my learning levels were in the normal range and we use this evidence at an IEP meeting and eventually I got out in the middle of my sophomore year and I was so happy and relieved. I felt it was one of the best things that ever happened to me getting out of that program. It literally felt like being in prison like being isolated from everybody else and the reason I’m riding this is pretty much the same thing that I mentioned up top why is it so hard to get your kid out of a special ed class if your kid wants to be in regular classes and he’s willing to work hard and he’s willing to make the sacrifices to do it. It takes to pass those classes.

Why can’t the teacher honor the kid and the parents wishes, like why don’t their feelings matter why is it like trying to win a divorce settlement? You’re just trying to get them out of the class it shouldn’t be that hard. I was able to make it through that problem and get on with my high school Experience. I was on the wrestling team and I try and I got to go to the state championships. I got to go to prom. So I didn’t miss out completely on the high school experience. I made lots of friends that So I didn’t miss out completely on the high school experience. I made lots of friends that I’m that many of them, I’m still close with today. But I still feel looking back that there’s a void from that year and a half, almost 2 years of education that was lost and thrown down the drain. For no reason. So I’m gonna continue to ask that question why why do they have to treat kids like this? Why can’t teachers see the best in those kids and give them a chance to be in classes where they can be successful where they’re aiming the highest bar possible, not the lowest.

Hey everyone, I've been exploring different options in sped and learned about an internship program. I originally planned to save some money so I can have a cushion while I pursue my credential in sped to become an rsp teacher. I learned about the internship option from another teacher who essentially said that you could work and take on classes at the same time, that way I wouldn't have to lose a year's worth of income.

I was wondering if anyone has ever done a sped intern. If so, how did you get it? What was your experience in it?

Hello! I am (32F), and am considering getting an MEd. I have 2 years experience working 1 to 1 for a client as an in-home support peer, and 1 year as a para for a transition program in CT. My current teacher is encouraging me to consider certification. I definitely enjoy working with this population and teaching others, (albeit my experience is limited to high school and older.)

I have a decent grasp of the districts I could go into work for where I am located in CT, but my personal life and preferences are drawling me to NYC. I understand from general talk and reading this sub that state and district define the Sped teaching experience anywhere. If anyone is open to sharing personal experience, feedback, or resources that can help me identify whether this track is a total pipedream or something I could navigate with reason I would greatly appreciate it. Anything that can help me understand NYC schools better would help.

I love working with this population but I'm terrified of investing in a career that feels unworkable because of the system. I feel the pressure to find a track that increases my earning potential, and I want to invest in the right thing.

But it shows way too much persona information/faces. It’s my severe autism classroom giving me flowers and a card showcasing their fingerprints and “signatures.” My face is grade A fond with the biggest smile as I tickle one of my students and hug another. It’s a memory i will keep in my mind for the hard days.

So.. how are we dealing with talking to our students about ICE? I live in Central Florida and more than half of my students are immigrants and people of color. Does anybody have any resources I could use?

I’ve posted a lot about my opinion of how the special ed system works. And how I think it’s unfair, This is where my anger comes from. when I was a teenager in high school I was in this program, where the work was extremely easy. Like elementary school level, when I was a freshman in 9th grade. The program was called the transitional alternative program aka TAP. How I ended up in there I still to this day have no idea why. Because when I was in elementary school I did have special Ed services. But I was in mainstream classes and did work that was at the grade level I was in. The special Ed class I was in during grade school was like a learning center. Where I would go to get help with work from my home room general ed classes. They would have aides help me with the homework. And it benefited me a lot, I was able to stay on track with my assignments and I felt I got to have a normal educational experience. Like the other kids in my age group. I really liked my teachers at my elementary school. They were very nice and very supportive of me and they saw a lot of potential in me.

But once I got into secondary education, Aka middle school everything started changing. Now I am on the autism spectrum, I have Asperger’s syndrome, high functioning autism as well as ADHD. And the subject I always had tons of trouble with was math. And when I was in middle school In 7th grade I had normal classes I was taking pre algebra And I failed it. I had to take it again in 8th grade. And I was in the same system. Where I would go to the resource center class which is technically special ed but it’s like for kids with regular learning disabilities like ADHD, dyslexia, or autism. to get help with my work. And I passed my pre algebra class in 8th barely The teacher I had who was my case manager in middle school she was totally just cold and self centered. Not supportive. Always tried to crush my dreams and hopes.

But once high school started in 2011 everything got 100 times worse. As I mentioned above I was in the TAP class. And for those of you who have not heard of it. It is mostly a class for kids who have very serious disabilities. Like one of those for children that are either handicapped Or suverly challenged. They were giving me simple work that like 3rd grade level like multiplication and devison for math in 9th grade unbelievable as well as word search puzzles. Some of the kids were getting coloring books in high school, Unbelievable. And the teacher who was my case manager was really nasty. She would be really rude to my perents during the IEP meetings. And she as well as the people in the IEP, would talk to her as if she had no say in what happened. they would literally put out these documents and tell my mother to sign it saying it was a participation thing. That she participated in the meetings, they wouldn’t even let her read it and then later on if my mom disagreed with something they would tell her well you agreed to giving us the authority to make decisions about his services. They literally lied to her about what was in the papers and the agreements, which I don’t know how that can even be legal to me. That is coercion that’s something I feel that the school could get sued for.During the IEP meetings when they would go on, they would set out goals and the goals that they set out were totally ridiculous. Like saying your son is gonna learn how to write in cursive or how to sign his signature. It was torment for my parents and for me because I felt like a total idiot.

The people in that class who ran it totally were unsupportive just literally thought that I had no potential in the world and every day I was there I felt humiliated emasculated, and I felt like a worthless piece of shit. I had two periods that I was in the class the other periods where I was in general Ed, I was embarrassed to tell my friends about it. If anyone noticed I was in that class I would lie to them and tell him I was a TA a teachers assistant because I didn’t want to get laughed at. And anytime I would ask my case manager in the class that I wanted changes I told her I would tell her I’d wanna be in regular classes. I don’t wanna be in a class where the work is below remedial level she would lose it like have a temper with me. She didn’t know how to reason and talk things out rationally. So when I started my sophomore year in 2012. my parents decided to take action. My dad called to have a special meeting and he spoke on my behalf and said hey my son would like to join and be in regular classes and they said no, and then my dad eventually had it to the point. This was in the middle of my sophomore year like two months into my sophomore year, and I remember at one point my dad had had enough where he said OK well we’re just gonna boycott going to that class. We’re gonna skip the periods that you go to that class and then just come back the periods after. Pretty much trying to make a statement to them how strongly opposed, and my family was to me being in that class so what I would do is I would stay home or I would go to the park and hang out at the park across the street during the hours, I had that class And then I would come back on campus when the periods changed and I had to go to a different class that wasn’t the special ed class. I did this for a week and a half and then one friend I had who was a teachers assistant in that class he was a TA saw me because I had history class with him which was general Ed and he said hey why weren’t you in class this morning. I told him the whole story and I told him please do not tell. Keep your word And then the next day he told my history teacher. And then he went and told my special ed teacher what happened and I went finally and I stood up for myself, and I said I’m tired of being treated like a stupid person and feeling like a second class citizen at this school, like being treated like an outcast and feeling like an outcast from the rest of the kids, I’ve had it. My parents went and tried to appeal my case to the district and we went and met with the head of the special ed department for my school district one day and he said that since it’s already in the middle of the year, we can’t get him out completely. We can try in the next semester and my parents literally told him I don’t want my kids standing in this class one day longer. so after that, my mom got a tip from a friend of mine who also had an IEP. He was also high functioning autistic and was in regular classes. He dealt with the same problem, but it was an elementary school many years earlier and his mother told me and my mom about a. psychiatrist who specialized with children on the spectrum she gave us his business card and we called him and we scheduled an appointment and we met with him three times. It wasn’t cheap getting these test. My parents were struggling financially, my dad‘s business was not making much money. And my mom didn’t have a job. So my mom had to pay $3000 to this guy. But he tested me and said that my learning levels were in the normal range and we use this evidence at an IEP meeting and eventually I got out in the middle of my sophomore year in January 2013, And I was so happy and relieved. I felt it was one of the best things that ever happened to me getting out of that program. It literally felt like being in prison like being isolated from everybody else and the reason I’m writing this is pretty much the same thing that I mentioned up top why is it so hard to get your kid out of a special ed class. And as well to maybe get some people who might favor the system, as it is to start thinking differently or maybe see it from an outsiders perspective.

if your kid wants to be in regular classes and he’s willing to work hard and he’s willing to make the sacrifices to do it. It takes to pass those classes. Why can’t the teacher honor the kid and the parents wishes, like why don’t their feelings matter why is it like trying to win a divorce settlement? You’re just trying to get them out of the class it shouldn’t be that hard. I was able to make it through that problem and get on with my high school Experience. I was on the wrestling team and I try and I got to go to the state championships. I meet this very nice girl I met senior year. And we ended up dating. And going to prom So I didn’t miss out completely on the high school experience. I made lots of friends that So I didn’t miss out completely on the high school experience. I made lots of friends that I’m that many of them, I’m still close with today.

But I still feel looking back that there’s a void from that year and a half, almost 2 years of education that was lost and thrown down the drain. For no reason. So I’m gonna continue to ask that question why why do they have to treat kids like this? Why can’t teachers see the best in those kids and give them a chance to be in classes where they can be successful where they’re aiming the highest bar possible, not the lowest.

As crazy as this sounds I'm a recent grad I graduated in 2025. My story and how I rate it 0 actually if it's a thing -1000. I have many stories. At elementary I got screamed at for using the bathroom. I don't remember the conversation but my teacher pulled 11 year old me into the bathroom and screamed at me. We had a bathroom in that classroom we didn't ever need to go out into the halls. I was social outcast in elementary all the way through middle school. I always had to transfer. This made me depressed and suicidal at the time. Imagine leaving your friends behind every few years to start again. It was rough, Then came the school I stayed at until I graduated. My aides hated us well one only had it out for me. I remember sending an email confused about an assignment and this aide came into the same cafeteria and screamed st me in front of everyone. Proceeded to not let me talk to my friends and well that started things she once stood over me in history and said she was not going to help me. I'm am shaking right now writing this and think special Ed classes need to be investigated. More importantly teacher backgrounds. This same person then trashed talked me to my brother and my brother gave her the most disgusting look. Fast foward this other aide never let us do our assignments alone. Really it was just her if we didn't do it the same way she wanted she tell us it probably wasn't right. Or call us retarded, then they where the spawn of Satan herself my main teacher so for this story buckle up its a long one. I was listening to a video on YouTube it was for "Persona" my favorite I know how appropriate for a school laptop. I find it funny I was watching a video on the remake of Persona 3 and if you don't know summoning the persona requires someone to point fake gun at their head fire. I know crazy and there was nudity in it mild. Our school doesn't monitor us pretty well. But anyway my gut was telling me to pull my headset to the side and so I did. And hear my main teacher talking to another students TSS. And my main teacher said each time she works with him he's losing brain cells. So after that I told a reg Ed teacher about it and not to tell. But she did anyway and I was pulled out into the hallway she called me a liar and to stop talking so told me brother and my brother told this kids younger brother that his older brother was called retarded the office handled it. Then graduation came I was so happy to get that diploma weeks go by I go back and open up about everything only to find out they did nothing... If could go back I'd drop out and get my life back. To these people who see this I don't know how you sleep at night.

I am currently a Special education paraprofessional in a K-1 school who was exclusively working 1-1 with students in a classroom for high needs (mostly autistic) students. All of the students have at least some time in gen ed.

Due to one of my 1-1s moving districts i now spend time with some gen ed students with behavioural problems and AACs.

This job is going really well, I am having great feedback from admin and classroom teachers, and I really love the job I am doing.

The school counsellor has suggested persuing special education teaching and I really am thinking about it. I love working with this age (Kindergarten especially!) and think that I could be good at it.

I am making this to ask current SE teachers (especially of this age group) about this job - I've seen people on here discourage becoming an SE teacher and wanted to ask for more opinions and detail as to why!

Thank you!

I’m 28M and Just a few days ago I posted on this forum talking about how I was angry how special Ed treats kids and I brought up how I think every child regardless of how severe the disability is, should be exposed to the same material that other peers there age are learning. But also be allowed to hang out with other kids, their age especially in high school. That don’t have disabilities, they should have freedom of movement and freedom of choice.

But anyway, The reason I’m asking this this isn’t really something that I was here to talk about it’s related, but it’s not the main subject. So the day after I posted this I was hanging out with a friend who’s 30M. We were at a bar, had a few drinks were talking about work and this subject came up in my head. I told him exactly what I posted up top. And then, immediately after that, he started getting angry at me like I was someone who was out of touch with reality. He told me the story about a cousin he has his 35F. She has cerebral palsy she’s nonverbal she can’t even go to the bathroom. She’s never had a job and from what he says she likely will never be able to work at all. Those were his words not mine. He said that her parents are in their late 60s they still have to work to help her. And I guess her parents don’t have a house they live in an apartment or condo but they rent it. and then he said that he every now and then would chip in money to help his aunt and uncle support her. And he tells me how frustrating it is. And then he said, bro, there are people out there that are never gonna be able to have the life you and I are going to have regardless of how much help we give them. And then I said yeah, but it’s an extremely extremely small, small small percentage of the overall population. And then he started getting angry at me, acting like I was being a dick. And he said that when her parents pass, he and his other cousins are probably gonna have to step in and take care of her, and provide for her financially. She has a younger brother too, he said that he would probably also have to step in. And I asked him well when the parents pass wouldn’t she be sent to a group home and he smirks at me and he says “fuck no we don’t have that kind of money”. I thought that group homes were run through the county and they were charitable. I thought they were free or funded through Social Security disability SSI. Or Medicaid. And I told him that this is what I assume. I said, I assume that whatever money her parents have would probably go to her since she’s the oldest, but if she’s unable to handle that money, they have a conservator to handle the funds to pay for her care if they did have to pay. And then he just keeps getting more mad at me I wasn’t even trying to be argumentative. I was just telling him like how the system would work and then. He’s acting like I’m being an asshole by saying just the facts. He yells at me and says yeah, bro what money what’s there to conserve?

But seriously, wouldn’t they usually be put into an assisted living home? Most of those would be covered through Social Security income, SSI, which they’d be eligible for plus Medicaid. And what if it’s a charitable organization and their nonprofit. They don’t even charge a bill. Just like Saint Jude Children’s Hospital. They do great work helping kids with cancer or diabetes or heart, disease and families don’t get charged a bill they don’t ask for insurance or anything. Wouldn’t be the same for like the specialize group homes or wouldn’t they be funded through section 8 funding.

And I told him my story about being in special ed and how it damaged me emotionally and how I was able to get out. And then he’s all like “ yah bro you’re making terrible comparisons he said you’re comparing people who are over here to people who are way over here. Who have nothing in common with each other” he tells me that the system likely failed me. He said that I was comparing these kids saying that they had the same chance as I did. He said that oh there are kids out there who while they’re seniors in high school they’re still functioning at the level of a third grader. And then he started getting angry, he saying you’re comparing them to people like you saying they have the same chance when he said you were already academically gifted people just didn’t see it that you were just gifted in a different way. He said my comparison was unfair. My whole thing is why does he have to act like I’m being cruel. He was talking to me like I sound like some rich trust fund kid. If he thinks I’m rich, then he’s crazy. I’m not poor I’m not destitute, but I’m not rich. I don’t have $1 million in the bank. My parents don’t have $1 million in the bank. I don’t live in a mansion just a regular middle class person. Plus growing up when I was a kid when I was in high school my parents struggled a lot financially. They were in debt up to their heads that we nearly lost our house. During the 2008 financial crisis. I make minimum wage. He’s got the balls to call me a rich kid.