As a special needs parent and a parent of a typical Kindergarten student it pains me to see them struggling to learn. Virtual learning is just not possible for students of a young age, students with disabilities and students with difficult home situations.

Unfortunately each school district interprets the guidelines from the State Department of Health very differently.  They may base this on their own staffing needs and their inability to comprehend medical data and or epidemiology, as they are not medical professionals. They are also highly biased due to their Union.  

This has resulted in huge disparities in education. The Governor and DOE have offered very little direction. Currently, most special needs children have been relegated to sitting on a chrome book for five minutes per day, as that is all their attention span will allow. This is the second year for them where everything they look forward to has been canceled.

The special-ed teachers can draft lofty assignments all day long, but without help from therapists, teachers, parents and grandparents at home they will never be accomplished.

My son has a team of therapists including OT, PT and Speech. How can I ever re-create what 3 or 4 professionals can do on a daily basis. I have my Masters Degree but it is regrettably in another field. I would not expect any of those professionals to come to my work place and save a life.

 The idea that I can fulfill the duties of five other professionals while having a career and caring for my family is ludicrous.

Logging into a Chrome book for five or ten minutes daily does not prove socialization, or stimulation. Virtual learning is a poor substitution for a full six hour school day.

Let us have access to Special Ed teachers or assistants that can come to our home to assist. Let us have access to private schools that are actually open. 

Do not allow the disadvantaged and struggling students among us to fall even further behind due to this bureaucratic struggle we now find ourselves in. 

I do not wish for more people to fall ill with the COVID virus. But there are other social and human rights issues that also ail us. These unprecedented times are representing an unfair access to education. This is the the clearest discrimination, I have ever seen. 

Children with IEP's in place are not getting any sort of learning. Schools "shut down" and "quarantine" every few minutes due to perceived exposures. 

And in the end, we will have lost a generation of young minds. Will the hands of time turn back?

We must do better for our childrens self esteem and well being. Virtual learning is clearly impossible. Life is an in-person activity my friends. What is the solution? If you are a special needs parent, sibling, friend, or just a kind hearted person who believes in fighting for the underdog please consider signing. 

I watch my son and six or seven other autistic children stimming in unison to the background of an ill-fated ZOOM session and I know only one thing.. this not the way forward.