It's time to speak out

Families that have children receiving special education services in self-contained classrooms tend to be very isolated. It is the exception and not the rule when families become connected and involved after being segregated. Due to this separation it is very difficult to bring parents of kids receiving special education together to organize for or against issues and actions that impact our kids. I believe that parents of kids receiving special education services should not wait for a meeting that is supposed to address their concerns. The community needs to hear our stories and concerns in the general forum. It is important that we no longer accept this separate and unequal treatment that demoralizes families and disrespects children. We need to speak out whenever an opportunity presents itself, teach the rest of the community, and give them the chance to meet us and learn.

Here are some upcoming opportunities for families to share their issues and actions about special education services and how they impact our kids:

2 of these opportunities are sponsored by City Hall. Here is a blurb from the PPS website about the Portland Plan...

The Portland Plan is the city's effort to guide Portland's growth and development for the next 25 years. At the workshops, participants will set goals and targets around a variety of issues facing Portland, including improving access to affordable housing, quality schools and 20-minute neighborhoods.

The following two meetings are an excellent opportunity for our families to make Special Education a mainstream community issue.

April 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Beaumont Middle School, 4043 N.E. Fremont St., and 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 18 at Jackson Middle School, 10625 S.W. 35th Ave.

Another opportunity to speak out is a community forum on Restorative Justice in Schools. This will be held at Parkrose School District Board Room at 10636 NE Prescott on Monday, May 10th from 8am to 10am. Questions and RSVP for this at 503-988-6951 or 503-969-7783.

We can't change the system unless we show up.