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We
believe that our children with special needs can grow to be
contributing, competent and caring adults. We
believe that it is the responsibility of the public schools to work with
families to make this happen.
We believe that families are the most significant
factor in our children’s education and demand that their input be
sought out, welcomed, and respected. We
believe that when schools meet our children’s unique learning needs,
all children benefit. We
believe that all children have the potential and hunger to learn.
We
believe that when children are treated with respect and taught in ways
that honor their styles of thinking and learning, they blossom.
We
believe that spending time and effort to understand and meet our
children’s needs when they are young will be repaid many times over as
they grow to be productive members of society. We
believe most teachers teach for the love of the job and want to learn to
reach all children. We
dream of schools that provide nurturing environments, free from bullying
and abuse, where the needs of all children are met so they may reach
their potentials and become full members of society.
We
believe that this can only happen when families’ knowledge and
concerns for their children are fully
valued and listened to, and when families are given the information
they need about their rights and options. We
dream of a day when schools and families will work together as equal
partners to help our children, not fight as adversaries; when schools
will see our children as opportunities, not obstacles.
We
know that investing in our children now will reap great benefits in the
future. We
demand that our country make this investment now
– one that will be repaid many times over.
History
is full of great contributions by men and women with “special
needs”. We dream that our children will have the opportunity to make
their own special contributions, large and small.
We
believe that families are a powerful force for change. We
demand that our schools fulfill their responsibility to work with us to
make this dream a reality. We will not rest until our dream is realized. |