My latest trip to Boise October 21-24

In October, I went to Boise to for the fall Idaho Developmental Disabilities Council Meeting. We had a presentation on Inclusion in Idaho. The presenters were Max Waxpper and Jeniffer Larson, who work for Center on Human and Development.

The report had the following five sections: 1. Least Restrictive Environment Appeal Trends, 2. Survey of Idaho Teacher Preparation Programs, 3. Survey of Current Teachers and Administrators Perceptions About Attitudes Toward Inclusion 4. Survey of Parentsof Students with Disabilities in Idaho and 5. Data Analysis.

I am going to touch on all five parts a little bit so you know how Idaho Schools are doing teaching our students with disabilities.

1. Least Restrictive Environment Appeal Tends: Students with Disabilities LRE Placement Date from Idaho SDOE. They conducted research from 2003 to 2007. In 2003 the score was 15-25% in and in 2007 it rose up to almost 50% which is wonderful.

2, Teacher Education: I was very disappointed with Teacher Education becaues I thought University Idaho, Boise State and Idaho State University would be better at educating our teachers for students with disabilities. In my opinion, the best college is Lewis Clark State College, because they have a former Professor Michelle Joddy of University Idaho and she is doing a great job educating future special education teachers!

3 Teacher Demographcs: Teachers with one year of experience and teachers with up to fourty years of teaching were surveyed. 93% of teachers reported feeling that students with disabilites should be in regular, inclusive classrooms.

4. Survey of parents: Parents have mixed feelings regarding inclusion. Some parents are not happy with full inclusion in schools. One parent felt that the older teachers are better at teaching students with disabilities than younger teachers.

5. Data Analysis: In the Data Analysis, schools across the state were compared. They found out how Idaho School teachers are doing teaching students with disabilities. In Idaho, as in many other states, there is a 50% approval rating on the current inclusion practices.

In a couples years Max Waxpper and Jeniffer Larson, will do an other survey. They are hoping to see improvements in of approval.

My Speech to a college class in Oct 2008

I am forty-five years old and I have Cerebral Palsy. I started working for Families Together in 1992.

Today, I would like talk to you about what frustrates me. First of all, my biggest frustration is when I am trying to talk to someone and they say ok, but I know they never got it, or they talk too loud or too slow. When I have someone like this I just laugh because they're the ones with the problem and not me when this happen I say a prayer for them. I live in my own apartment with care providers coming in helping me. You can bet I have went through lots of good and bad people since I was eighteen years old, and I would like to share something that I went through so you understand.

When I was eighteen years I wanted to moved out on my own, just like most teenagers I thought I knew what was best for me. My parent didn’t know how I felt, WAIT A MINUTE! I have a disability and I am not like my brothers and sister or even my friends. I forgot I couldn’t feed or groom and dress myself!

In 1981 things had just started in Moscow for people with disabilities and they had started transitional apartments. This would be where I would live with a roommate and they would teach me how to handle my own money, how to shop, and even teach me go around Moscow. Did it happen? No, they taught me how to clean the floor on my hands and knees. Also they wanted me to feed myself which I tried when I was boy and I couldn't do it. Back then my Mother and I had to find my own providers, but now I go through an agency.

You would think it would be better. However, last year I had a provider that smelled so bad that she made me sick. I told A Full Life (my agency ) that I did not want herworking with me. . The head of the agency reassured me that the provider had changed and I needed to give her a try. The provider came with the supervisor last Tuesday and she was ok. But then on Thursday night she came by herself and she had a bad odor.

So on Friday I called the head of the agency told them that I didn't want her. They told me that Sara had to come that night because the supervisor went out of town and it would be the last time. So there are still lots of problems getting the help that I need. I have to be an advocate for my self.

I am also an advocate for the others. I serve on the Idaho Council for Developmental Disabilities. I have been on the council for four years. I travel to Boise 4-5 times a year and work with the council to help improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. Every year we speak in to the legislators and let them know what we are working on. We work on self determination for people with disabilities so that we can make decisions on the type of support we want.

I would like leave you something to think about. If you ever work or teach someone with a disability - just teach them the way you would want to be taught. Treat them the way you would want to be treated.