If you had a son/daughter with downsyndrome, what school would you send them too?

Question

In my year in highschool, theres a girl with downsyndrome. She went to the same primary as me too. My cousin (16 years old) also has downsyndrome. But she always attended a specialist school for disabled children. Its pretty much like a regular school just the teachings are different to suit the needs of the children, in primary they learn sign language and in highschool they learn math and english, how to read and write simple things, and add up simpler things.
The girl that goes to the same school as me is always sitting by herself, and is egged on by the younger kids to do things she should know are wrong, which my cousin would know were wrong. She's quite agressive, i think this is because she doesn't know whats right or wrong which is down to sending her to a regular school perhaps. She's in all the lower sets and always has a special teacher on hand in her lessons. They say they treat her like every other kid, but obviously they don't. They dont use the same rules for her as they do everyone else, which in my opinion does not help her learn right from wrong. For example, she has tried to push me down the stairs once (i did nothing to provoke her, i was just walking to my next lesson) and she didnt get punished. For something like that we'd be looking at isolation at the least, exclusion for a week at the worst. I also dont think it's very fair on the other kids either. This girl should be in the year above us, and also once a week attends college, studying childcare which, if we're being real, she isnt going to do anything with so its a bit pointless really.
However i know at my cousins school (shes now leaving for college, to study life skills which will actually benefit her) shes brighter than any other student because compared to the other students, she isnt as disabled... if you understand? For example, some students cant speak well. So my cousin doesnt really have any friends at her school either. She's more like a carer for the other students.
Just my thoughts.
What would you do if you were placed in the situation?

Answer 1

It is the choice of the parents where they send their child. Her parents for whatever reason feel main stream school is best for her. In UK (not sure where you are) she would have a Statement of Special Educational Needs and this would set out what support she needs from the school. As long as the school feels they can meet her needs then there is nothing that says she can't go there.



Her parents may be being naive, but it's their choice.

Answer 2

I honestly do not know, I think primary school would be ok for a child with downs syndrome and there is a boy at primary school with my granddaughter that is downs but because the kids are young they treat him like a normal child and play with him the same as the next person but I suppose when kids get older and are at High school they treat people different so maybe it is the people that do not have downs that are in the wrong by the way they treat the person with downs? I don't know maybe I am wrong but what do you think you would want if you had a downs child, would you want them to go to a normal school or be segregated because of their disability?

Answer 3

i am 29 years old and i just wanted to say i have to write about this very thing in my drama group thank you and another thing is did you talk to your mother maybe she can fight for you mine sure did cause what your talking about is fairness, and being included in the class for my mom i was the only person with down syndrome in my middle school, but in elementry school my mom put me in a regular class in afternoon and a special ed in morning so someone could work with it has been that way since high school, see i have a mild form of down syndrome,, and often some people thought i could not make it but my mom had faith in me and i did i graduated high school, finished college at tarrant county college in tarrant county tx, i am also a advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. just be an advocate for those in need it will help others

Answer 4

It would depend on their level of disability and how it affected them.



You can't base the right educational setting for an individual from simply their medical condition/disorder it must be based on an individuals abilities and needs.



So quite impossible to give a either or answer.

Answer 5

I would send her/him to a canadian public school.Its full of retards so she will blend well.