I have been tutoring English privately since 1997
and teaching basic literacy and IT in Further & Adult Education
since 2001. By choice, a fair number of my learners have learning difficulties and/or
disabilities.
My
interest in special educational needs was first triggered by the birth
of my daughter who has Down’s syndrome. Aware that her
full potential could only be achieved by providing her with a stimulating home environment, I taught her
to read and write during her pre-school
years and underwent two major battles in 1984-6 and 1992 with two separate LEAs
(Manchester & Stockport, UK respectively) for her
rightful inclusion into mainstream schools.
The battles were particularly challenging because my daughter would have
been the first child with Down's syndrome to enter the authorities' mainstream
schools, which would have set a precedent for other children with Down's syndrome
to follow. Despite both LEAs' insistence that her needs would be
"better met" at special school
(and their dismissal of unanimous professional advice recommending mainstream), my daughter's inclusion into
mainstream schools proved to be very successful, and many other children with Down's syndrome did, indeed follow.
I should stress that winning those battles was only
made possible through the dedicated support of certain people and organizations
of whom I will be eternally grateful. Richard Jones (Educational
Advisor of the
Down’s Syndrome
Association) made possible a successful appeal after the first 2-year
battle for our daughter's inclusion into primary school, and
IPSEA
(Independent Panel for Special Education Advice), particularly Katy Simmons,
supported us through thick and thin during our second battle for
transition from primary into secondary school. Other organizations that I
found very supportive and informative are listed below under
'Links', particularly
ACE,
CSIE
and
Network
81.
Passionate about the right for everyone to have equal choices
about where and how they should be educated, I became an IPSEA trustee for a number of
years and administrator of an online special needs
discussion forum. I then carried my SEN interests into my teaching career by gaining an Advanced Dip. in Special
Needs in Education and a PgCert Adult Dyslexia Diagnosis and Support (ADDS).
Not to be
A teacher, a nurse, a doctor maybe
That’s what our first child would turn out to be
A daughter of grace and radiant beauty
The world her oyster for all to see.
Doctors, however, said that’s not to be
Be thankful she reaches the age of three
If she thrives, she won’t read or write you see
Or hold down a job in society.
All hopes and dreams were dashed instantly
Replaced by the fearful uncertainty
Of pity and frowns by society
What will the future hold for thee?
Why morn a child that was not meant to be
But celebrate what was given to me
A child with exceptional qualities
Of innocence pure and malice free.
Who became a young lady of dignity
With skills you and I may never achieve
And gayety cheering people around
With a smile to sooth people’s furrowed frowns.
J. Maine July 06
