Reply to Newsweek: "Schools Are Killing My Son's Autism Support Under the Veil of Equity"

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Reply to "Newsweek: "Schools Are Killing My Son's Autism Support Under the Veil of Equity""

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]How are these programs being killed under the veil of equity? I read the article and I came away with they were being killed because of budgetary reasons. What are the equity reasons?[/quote]

I truly don't think there are any, which is what makes me suspicious of the entire "article," which is really just the equivalent of a blog post. It seems that MCPS is phasing out this specific approach, which is sort of a "magnet" for kids with autism. Current kids will finish, but new kids will attend geographically closer programs that serve kids with autism and other learning differences.

Now, I think there's an interesting discussion that folks could bring to the table about whether autism-specific programs are better than programs that serve a variety of kids on the diploma track, but I don't see those arguments being made. More importantly, the insistence that this is about "equity" makes it seem like the author is trying to turn it into a culture war discussion instead of a "how to best meet the needs of kids with IEPs" discussion. [/quote]

The components of this program are already considered evidence-based practice. Removal of this program will eliminate much of what’s considered EBP for ASD programs.

http://www.autismdiagnostics.com/assets/Resources/NSP2.pdf

https://ncaep.fpg.unc.edu/sites/ncaep.fpg.unc.edu/files/imce/documents/EBP%20Report%202020.pdf

[/quote]

If I were a parent in that system I’d read and print these and call an IEP meeting asap. Check all the specific types of intervention being used currently. Ask how each intervention type will be implemented to the same standards in the proposed new setting. Ask what training new teachers will have received to ensure this happens. Ask how teacher student ratios will affect these interventions. Ask for expected outcomes under the proposed system.[/quote]

This would have been an interesting "article." Leave aside these fake allegations of "emaciating the program for equity" and talk about what Darnestown offers, and how the proposed alternative is different/worse.

I am sympathetic to parents who are scared and mad that a program which worked for their kids is going away! But employing culture wars rhetorical bombs to describe a pretty normal bureaucratic decision that seems primarily driven by cost is not persuasive. [/quote]

right back atcha - getting fixated on a phrase you dislike and proclaiming the whole things suspect is just as much getting caught up in the culture wars as anything else. [/quote]

Here's the thing - the folks seeking media coverage and bringing this article to DCUM are clearly looking to build sympathy and a critical amount of pressure on MCPS. But you do that by building bridges, not walls. The author literally uses the phrase "under the veil of equity" in the headline, so pretending that you don't understand why people might have some questions about why this is "equity" is disingenuous.

So far, the explanation is that it's equity because it's mainstreaming, but it's only "mainstreaming" if you consider "mainstreaming" be synonymous with "serving kids with autism in the same location as kids with other learning and processing differences."

Basically, if you are going to make a specific claim, you need to back it up. If you want your fellow parents to help you advocate, you need to be willing to explain things to them. That's just Organizing 101.  
[/quote]

google is your friend. there’s plenty of other coverage if you want to look. but clearly you prefer to get up on your hobby horse.

also what the author says (and I don’t know if this is true) is that MCPS claims this is in the name of equity. Which is indeed bullsh*t. [/quote]

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