Special Education Week: National Cause of the Moment
It was actually harder to find info on Special Education Week than I thought it would be. In 10 pages of Google search results, the closest I came was an Examiner.com story claiming knowledge of a nationally recognized Special Education Week in March. I saw an article somewhere about a state special education week in April and found some items on Catholic sites.
When I began searching, I expected to quickly pinpoint the real Special Ed Week dates so I could point out the error and go on my merry way. The absence of evidence made me wonder if there is even a Special Ed Week at all. And that REALLY made me feel like these kids don’t matter. Which makes the post in which people purport to care all the more ironic.
via National Cause of the Moment – Motherlode Blog – NYTimes.com.
A great commentary. Have you seen those Facebook status updates?
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About The Author
Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts is founder of Support for Special Needs and has been a regular contributor since its inception in May 2010. A mom to two kids with special needs, she didn't want other parents to feel what is the often isolating world of raising a child (or two!) with disabilities. Her kids had kidney transplants at the age of eight and will need liver transplants in the future as a result of ARPKD/CHF. They both have vision disorders and learning disabilities.
Gee. You seem to be saying that the value of children in special education is measured by the amount of media attention is attributed to special education programs. Honestly, that form of measurement means nothing to me and I have many years of experience working in special education over the past 30 years. I’ll have to go think about how I really believe showing “showing these kids matter”.
I tink the message this person was trying to make, but some how got lost on you, is that this needs to be brought to people’s attention because the cause is great so should the message be great. The whole reason for having any nationally (or internationally) recognized designated week for causes is to get those causes known and backed and understood.
It is clear to me that this person is saying that if it is so difficult to find any mention of this designated week with a Google search, that maybe the messagae needs to be better compiled and disseminated to “the masses” in order to get more people on board, and understanding of all that special needs people are and can be.
I would have agreed with you fully, up until that author’s VERY LAST SENTENCE. He’s mocking, not caring.
I guess you can read negativity into it, but the point remains that many seem to think there should be a “National Week” to acclaim the importance that most of us feel should be given to Special Education, and to those who really need it. I too, was amazed to discover there isn’t technically a week designated for this most important cause. Perhaps more people should take up the cause and get this changed.
Read the whole article. It was a woman with a special needs child. Context is everything.
When I saw the post on a friend’s Facebook status, my first thought was, “That’s a good thought, [name of my friend whose status this was]. I’ll happily pass this along”, followed quite quickly by, “Wait a minute: This looks like someone made it up out of whole cloth! And the plea to cut and paste and pass it on — it’s like a chain letter!” If it really were Special Education week, really were not just any Special Education week but an extra-special Special Education week, observed with a social networking media campaign and a replicating message, then at least one Facebook page which has long been officially a “like” on my profile would probably already be alerting me. So, fairly sure now that most or all of the parts of the post which claimed to be facts were in fact fiction, I was on the point of doing some digging to prove this hunch when another thought occurred to me: Unlike a chain letter, which is burdensome and depends on threats of supernatural violence, the burden of this is light, and it makes no threats, only a simple plea, and only once. Who cares what exactly was in the heart of its creator? Whether it is the product of some minor-league megalomaniac or some strange and incomprehensible ill-begotten scheme, the message itself is pleasing enough, and, really, it just wants to be loved. So I posted it.
As far as I am concerned, every week is Special Education Week!
Exactly! ;-j
I called the department of education in Washington D.C., they said there is no special education week. I then called the office of special education and the man at the director’s office said he too was looking up the information a few weeks ago and found there is no special education week…only recognition of employees with disabilities in the month of October.
Department of Education: 1800-872-5327 (gentleman said there may be things done locally, but nothing federally)
Department of Education, Office of Special Education (go to Programs/Development, then Office of Director): 202-245-7468
Hope it helps clear up any confusion.
According to Facebook status updates I see, “special education” week happens at least once a month. I see the same status every couple of months from the same people. I don’t think they even realize that they’ve posted it four times this year already. I definitely agree that it’s nothing more than an internet chain letter.
But your failing to see the main point of it. There isn’t enough awareness about special needs kids. People don’t, and probably will never understand special needs kids. I have ADHD (combined type) and I know that nobody but someone who has what I have will truely understand. All we want is to be treated like normal human beings. Nothing special.
The facebook status happens to be misleading and incorrect, it states: “Children with special needs don’t have an illness, so there is no cure, and it’s not contagious. They want what we all want, to be accepted. Most people won’t copy and paste this. Could you please do it and leave it on your status for at least an hour. It’s Special Education Week.” I often reply that though that is tru for many there are many people with special needs that were caused by an illness either physical or mental. It is important to recognize that illnesses cause special needs and often it is important it be recognized as an illness for special therapies, for IEPs, for social security, and many other reasons. how many people want special needs to not have recognition as illnesses? think if it isn’t an illness then your insurance doesn’t have to pay for special testing, special drs, special therapies, schools wouldn’t have to go the extra mile, would every mom out there like to lose the social security benefits because of the inability to document their childs special needs because you cant pay for dr appointments? More parents of special needs kids need to post messages that the current status is WRONG!!! Before it makes the wrong impact on our lives.
Mom of a special needs kid with mental ILLNESS
The current status is not wrong. It might be inaccurate in its generalization, but its not actually wrong. Special Education focuses on all students receiving special education services. While some of these students may have an illness, they’re not receiving services for the illness but for the DISABILITY. These students are learning disabled, where from an illness or genetic make up. For most of these students, there isn’t a cure. Would you say that someone who is physically disabled, has an illness? No, you wouldn’t because you can be disabled without having an illness. Does this mean that they should not receive special accomodations for their handicaps? Absolutely not. They deserve as much support to be able to have the chance to lead lives as easily as the rest of us. That being said, Children with DISABILITIES deserve just as many special accomodations in education to help them learn.
Teacher in a classroom full of profound DISABILITIES, not illnesses.
I agree. In my experience as a special education teacher of students with severe/profound disabilities, some people act like if they get too close they will “catch” the disability. I think the post encourages people to look at our students, and any other child with a disability, as they would any another student. This includes all people with disabilities no matter what causes it. They are kids who need love and care, so go ahead and get close to them. Touch them and talk to them because they need to know that they are accepted and respected.
I agree also, I worked with the mentally disabled for 12 years and I actually had to say to a gas station clerk that it was contagious once. He wouldnt take money from one of my clients.. Ridiculous.. These people are people just like anyone else..
The problem you all have with semantics is that you are fighting stigma on more than one front: One, that handicaps of all kinds are contagious, and two, that people with mental health issues aren’t really ill and could stop unwanted behavior if disciplined, etc. It’s disappointing to see two groups who are stigmatized argue over semantics instead of educating yourselves about all kinds of special needs and making a unified front.
Not all illnesses are contagious nor are they all disabling. But some special needs kids DO have disabling illnesses. Why not promote that all special needs children are not contagious instead of trying to act like they aren’t ill or impaired? Stop arguing with each other and educate yourselves instead.
I came to this site after googling about Special Education Week also, because I seen the status of a friend on facebook stating this as being Special Education week but 2 months ago another friend had this same post.
But the reason I am replying to your comment is this. NOT all parents of children with Special Needs receive the SSI benifits. I have filed 3 times and each time have been DENIED. Not because we dont have proof that she has special needs … we have all the documentation they require … but because they claim that since my husband makes more than 2500 a month she does not qualify yet we cant afford to meet all her NEEDS. So your comment about losing benefits that not all of us recieve is not accurate. My daughter not only have a Mental Illness but Physical Illness as well. The only thing she does get is the SPECIAL EDUCATION that the school system provides and I am thankful every day for the Teachers and staff at the public schools for everything they do for these children. It takes someone special to be a teacher but a SPECIAL SOMEONE to teach those with special needs.
Mom of Special Needs Child
Emily, I’m surprised that you would call special needs an illness as in many cases they are not. I don’t know what your childs illness/disability is, but you are also presenting a mistruth about special needs kids. SSI is for the disabled AND the ill. Doctors care for people with disabilities and insurance companies provide for them, so I really don’t understand what your beef is, or if you just don’t really understand it. My daughter was born with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum, which is NOT an illness, but it IS a condition. While the original poster may have generalized and provided misinformation, you are as well as my daughters disability was not created by any illness, but a genetic fluke. Further, a Facebook post will have NO effect on my daughter and her benefits, but MAYBE it will get people to try to understand who she is without looking at her like she’s defective in some way.
i think speacill education week is a good thing to do because it makes thoughs kids feel like people do care for them like they care for us people that have mental issues are just like normal people just with there own speacil thing……….. i think that twice a year all schools from michigan should do something to help earn money for these kind of people…….. so if you could please if you see someone who needs help help them or if u see a kid that has speacil needs give him a hand dont do it because you think you havet to do it because its the right thing to do……….
U.S.A MIDDLE SCHOOL
I JUST had the exact same experience. Someone on my fb posted that messaged, and I copied it, then thought I bet it really isn’t Special Educ Week. So I googled it and found the exact same answers! It was frustrating because so many other causes celebrate; workplace’s even have days. I think the poster was just trying to say that, it should exist. It should exist because it would genuinely make the spec educ students happy to celebrate it themselves, as well as their community. If my boss has to say happy Secretaries Day, there should definitely be the opportunities to promote loving a spec educ child/adult for who they are and what they do. 🙂 This is the 1st I ever replied or posted to a random internet discussion and it made me smile just to think about the topic. Thanks!
…and you have certainly made me smile. I just copied and posted this to my status in honor of my younger adult brother who has lived with a brain injury from birth his entire life. I know it’s not Special Education Week, but I don’t care. I posted it anyway.
I was hoping to find out too. My little sister has autism, so I grew up knowing about the differences between our lives in school. I think we should do something about it! Let’s come up with our own week, make a facebook page or event, and invite everyone we know, and encourage them to invite everyone else they know. If it catches on like the Betty White SNL page, maybe we can make a difference. We can try and coincide with the date in March or come up with our own, but I think it should be during the school year, no doubt. What do you think?
Amy has a good idea. In the meantime, we don’t have to copy and paste exactly… I discovered the same thing y’all did (no apparent official week), so edited the message that was posted and came up with this:
Children with special needs only want what we all want: To be accepted. It would mean a lot if you’d be willing to post this and leave it on your status for a while, maybe an hour? Although there may be no official Special Education Week (I couldn’t find record of it, if you do please let me know), this post is in honor of all people, especially children, who learn a little differently. ♥
T and Amy, I love your ideas! I think I’ll copy T’s blurb.
I had the same FB experience as the rest of you, and I, too, like this particular post. Thanks for giving me something TRUE to post!
The actual nationally recognized Special Education Week is March 22 – 26th…. Hope this helps with all the trivial demands….
http://www.examiner.com/parenting-education-in-utica/special-education-week-march-22-26th
tried to contact them about this. Was told no further comments on that matter…?
Even Snopes has NO record of such a thing.
Sorry…
The man who wrote that article on the examiner posted on it a month ago saying this: Lenny Giardino 1 month ago
This was an initiative by a support group to have a national week of recognition. It was forwarded to me. I did not have the time to travel to Washington DC, talk to Governor Patterson, or state ed to approve the initiative. My intro was misleading because I did not state the group. My error and I will retract the article if others feel it was misleading.
——————
Then he goes on to say some things along the lines of what others have said here, that it doesn’t really matter if there really is a week or not that they still need to be recognized every day.
But he never did go change his article to reflect the facts.
My daughter posted the initial script on facebook today and it resonated for me. However, not knowing of Special Ed Week led me to this site. Because I support the initial sentiment 100% but still seek words that match my own perspective and those offered here, I’ve edited a tad bit more, taking from T (thank you!), others’ comments, and my own gut:
Children with special needs only want what we all want: to be accepted. It would mean a lot if you’d be willing to post this and leave it on your status for a while, maybe an hour? Whether you read this during Special Education Week or any other week of the year, this post is in honor of all people, especially children, who learn a little differently. ♥
I like it!
I looked and read many sites and it does seem that there are various dates posted. And I agree with so many posts in here that it doesn’t really seem to be nationally recognized and how we should change that. Also, I agree that it only makes sense to have it during the school year, and March seems to be perfect because of no “major” holidays going on at that time. Well, my birthday is in March, which is a “major” holiday to ME…. LOL (just kidding), but seriously.. why is it that it is only 5 days and not 7? Just because there are 5 school days? I personally feel it would be better to have it for 7 days so we parents of a child with special needs can do something special with them over the weekend. (Maybe get store and fast food places to even get involved to help promote others of this day by giving out a lollipop, or a sticker, or a free drink, or whatever.) I think we should all post it as….
SPECIAL EDUCATION WEEK – March 18th – March 24th It seems we do not yet have a week verified as special education week. Therefore, let us all join together and support those who have special needs in order to get the schools to promote this week and EDUCATE those WITHOUT special needs more about those who do. Those with special needs just want to be treated like anyone else. They may need some additional help getting around or such, but they are human just like you and I and deserve to be treated that way. Please know it is inappropriate to stare, at anyone at anytime, rather ask what disorder they have and they or the person they are with, will be more than happy to answer you. Let’s get special education week marked on all calendars! Please repost this if you agree and want to see special education week become national.
I am more than willing to do all that I can to see this happen. I have some connections here in Pennsylvania where I may be able to pull some strings, but no promises. I, personally, am tired of us parents having to fight for everything our child needs when we already have enough on our hands. Anyways, that’s my 2 cents and I am sorry for talking so much. God bless!
I also received this post on fb once again (numerous times in the past several months) and tried to find out when the actual week is, since I’d never see a date. After reading the responses here, I replied to my friend with T and Amy’s alternate post. Perhaps this will go around now. I think that nicely altering the original to respond to it is an excellent idea. Thanks for sharing!
Everyone says that kids with “special needs” don’t get enough attention. I disagree. I think that kids with “special needs” get too much attention. They’re regular kids. Treat them like regular kids. I mean, pay attention to the fact that you need to adapt to them, but just completely smothering them will make the other kids feel neglected and will make that one child feel embarrassed.
-Teenager with “special needs”, who has gone through that embarrassment, and has listened to her non-special needs friends complain.
I don’t really think any special needs kids like myself (I have ADHD) need a Special Education Week. All we want and ever wanted is to be treated normally. We are unique. We simply want to be loved and cared about as much as you. All we want is to be treated normally, nothing special.
It seems that those who have special needs and replied in here are all saying the same thing…. they want to be treated normal… they don’t want to be “put into the spotlight” by having a special education week where they receive even more attention which can (by what some of these kids said) cause more harm then good.
Again, I personally feel that this week should be devoted more toward educating kids (and adults too) about those who have special needs, what it means, how to treat them, respect them and understand them. We have to start somewhere and it only makes sense that people need to better understand what a child with autism, adhd, ms, or whatever it is they have, is all about. Once they learn how about different disabilities, then perhaps that could help make things easier on the “special needs” children.
Isn’t that what everyone wants? To better unite all of the children so that each child, with or without a disability is accepted by one another? So why not have “special education week” just that? A week to EDUCATE about disabilities?
I don’t know about all of you, but I am not going to just keep reading about it and talking about it to different people. I am going to DO something about it. I am going to post a status, create an event, get the word out there and see how many will join in for the week of March 18th to the 24th. After a period of time, I am going to print out all those who “belong or signed” that they support this and get it notorized and go from there until it is on our calendars.
Hopefully, this will have a positive affect on everyone and will benefit all families, with or without disabilities.
Mother of a daughter with autism, does NOT get SSI, does NOT get benefits, yet fights for her because of love.
I started an event… if you would like a copy, please let me know. I am also going to do up another website, (I already have a business one) that i will make up flyers for the schools to have an option to hand them out. Each one will be about a different disability. I would also like to have games and such for the kids to do in order to help them learn and remember. if you have any ideas, please let me know. i will be sure to give you the credit. I do have some ideas, but would like a lot more.
Thank you!
Well, this page is still coming up as the most relevant information about ‘Special Needs Week’. When I pass along the status that was elegantly suggested by “T”, I’m going to link to this page. Some random thoughts:
* To the teens (Grant and Willow) who posted that too much focus was placed on them being labeled as ‘special needs’, as well as ‘smothered’: So sorry that was your experience. I was just glad to see that you are capable of posting a well-formulated thought. Will my ‘special needs’ child be able to do that as a teen? I doubt it right now, perhaps it will happen in his 20’s.
* Yes, every week is ‘special needs’ week in my home. It’s not just a week here, it’s a way of life.
* Coldly, I wonder if a particular week of awareness would change anything. Fortunately for us, we live in a school district that has excellent programs for elementary school aged children, and the awareness and acceptance is promoted pretty well. I don’t think I worry about my son being accepted now, it’s later on that I wonder what it will be like for him.
* Even with that said, would I support an effort to get a week established? You bet.
I’ve seen a lot of variations. This one doesn’t specify what week or month, but I like the sentiment.
Kids with special needs aren’t weird or odd. They only want what everyone wants… to be accepted! Can I make a request? Is anyone willing to post this and leave it on your status for at least 1 hour? It is Special Education Week & Autism Awareness Month, and this is in honor of all children made in a unique way!!!
People who re-post these on FB probably don’t care if they are celebrating a certain month, they are just trying to promote awareness and acceptance. I like that this one wasn’t one of the “trying to guilt-trip you into sharing” ones.
Actually April really is National Autism Awareness Month, I don’t believe the thing about Special Education Week but I really like the idea and would be very happy if one day there really is a Special Education Week in honour of all children who have different abilities.
My brother has Down Syndrome and almost everywhere we go people stare, so I’m in favor of promoting this so people realize these kids are just special and not so different at all.
So I did post this in my status so my friends can share it too and we can promote acceptance, the more the better!
I was once told by a very smart Director of Education, that “Special” Education is an incorrect term. She went on to explain, “All education is “Special”, that in public school they do a decent job meeting the needs of the middle of the bell shaped curve but continue to struggle to the meet the needs of the children on the right end of the curve as well as those on the left end of the curve. (Notice she didn’t use the term higher end and lower end as that is a label that doesn’t always fit) All children learn slightly different and each child’s needs are specific. She explained how we are lucky that we can deliver education to most of the masses in systematic way and that a good teacher will even tailor that to meet the needs of their specific students, but all our children are on the spectrum of learning and we struggle when they have needs that we are not able to meet no matter where they fall, nothing special about it, just simple education.”
I found that view refreshing, as a father of child with sever autism. The “special” term is used to draw attention to these children’s needs but I also think it servers to separate them even more than they already are from the general population. While it draws compassion and fiscal support it also draws resentment and negative attention. While my son doesn’t communicate in our world there is clearly an intelligence we struggle to understand.