BECAUSE OF MEDICAL ADVANCES, CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES ARE LIVING LONGER, RICHER LIVES. ATTENDING SCHOOL IS NOW A GIVEN. WHAT’S NOT SO CLEAR IS WHO’S GOING TO PAY FOR THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS.

Al Mance, Tennessee Education Association: “It costs on average about two and a half times as much to educate a student who’s in need of special education services than a student in a general education program.”

IN THIS CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DISTRICT, IT MEANS THAT 90% OF THE STUDENT BODY WILL LOSE SOME ART AND MUSIC PROGRAMS. STUDENTS WITHOUT DISABILITIES WILL STUDY IN UNDER-FUNDED AND OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS.

Julie Redmond, Mother of Special Needs child: “They have as much right to an education as a typical child and it shouldn’t be a rob Peter to pay Paul environment, and that’s kind of what’s happened.”

PARENTS OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN SAY YOU CANNOT PUT A PRICE ON QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ANY CHILD.

Sherri Shalolow, Mother of Special Needs child: “Kids get one shot at an education, and if we don’t do it right the first time we’re all going to be paying for it as a society later in life.”

COMPOUNDING THE DIFFICULTIES IS A TREND CALLED INCLUSION – PLACING MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED CHILDREN, LIKE JUSTIN WARNICK, IN “TYPICAL” CLASSROOMS. WHILE THE REST OF THE CLASS MUST COMPETE FOR THE TEACHER’S ATTENTION, JUSTIN HAS HIS OWN TEACHER’S AIDE. DOES IT MATTER THAT JUSTIN WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE REST OF THE CLASS? ADVOCATES SAY HIS PRESENCE TEACHES A LESSON THAT CANNOT BE LEARNED IN ANY BOOK.