Important Article in Yesterday's Boston Globe

THOMAS HEHIR AND STEVEN ROTHSTEIN


Hold up on cuts to special needs

By Thomas Hehir and Steven Rothstein
March 3, 2010

THE LEGISLATURE and Governor Patrick are engaged in the budget process, an arduous task even in good economic times. Education has always been a primary function of state government, and the governor recognizes this with a proposed 5 percent increase in the general education fund.

But for students with complex needs, the proposed budget cuts services almost in half, possibly denying them the quality education to maximize their chance to take part fully in society. The budget would shrink reimbursements to school districts that send students with complex educational needs to specialized private schools. Out of $230 million in this fund called the “circuit breaker,’’ the fiscal year 2010 budget cuts $90 million, or 39 percent. The governor’s 2011 budget cuts another $5 million, or a total of 41 percent. Not only are cuts of such magnitude unequal, they penalize children who have some of the most pressing educational needs.

Most children in Massachusetts should be fully educated in neighborhood schools, but cutting circuit breaker funds puts tremendous pressure on communities unable to accommodate them. It is unreasonable to expect every district to have a full array of special services for every student who is blind, deaf, deafblind, physically disabled, has medical problems, or cognitive disabilities.

On the other hand, limiting services to children with complex needs unfairly deprives them of adequate preparation for adulthood. Private specialized schools complement public schools by serving those who need intensive training from highly skilled professionals. They offer different services, but are united in the overarching goal of communities to educate their children. That is why the state created the circuit breaker in the first place.

With special services at their public school, most children with disabilities thrive in the mainstream. A few with severe or multiple disabilities find it impossible to fit in. Some public schools may not be able to fund specialized teachers, adaptive technology and other special accommodations. Students may be isolated, marginalized. In such circumstances, the district recommends a specialized school setting in which these students can participate fully in academics and social activities, where their own abilities - not traits beyond their control - drive learning.

Specialized schools have unique expertise, making them incubators of innovation. They positively impact the entire system through an array of cutting-edge student programs and teacher training that, in turn, strengthen their community-based services. Without such centers of innovation and training, 6,000 children with complex medical, learning, and sensory needs across Massachusetts would be undereducated. Thousands more in mainstream classrooms would miss out on the optimal education they could receive from outreach programs, or from teachers who are trained through these schools.

There are economic, social and academic arguments for funding the circuit breaker that pays for specialized school tuitions. There is an inescapable moral imperative, too. If it is true that the worth of any society is measured by how well it treats its citizens that need assistance to fully engage in life’s opportunities, then the Commonwealth will be judged by how well it educates and cares for the most vulnerable children. Children who are blind, deaf, physically disabled, cognitively impaired, or emotionally ill need to have the full spectrum of educational options.

As citizens we must all speak for these students. We want to ensure they are taught all that they can learn, and give them an equal chance to become productive members of society. Providing the best education possible for every child is not a choice, it is our obligation to the future.

Thomas Hehir is professor of practice at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, a member of the Perkins School for the Blind Board of Trustees, and former director of the US Department of Education’s Office of Special Education. Steven Rothstein is president of Perkins School for the Blind.

My Visit to the Marion Center

Last week, I was invited to visit the Marion Center, run by the Sisters of St. Joseph B. Cottolengo of Italy, who came to  Miami, at the request of Bishop Coleman Carroll in 1963 to develop a school and support services for children with intellectual disabilities.  With growth, they have developed in a similar way to us and I met with several of their Sisters. Under the vibrant leadership of Sister Lucia, who at age 89, inspires everyone around her with her wisdom, intellect and great sense of humor. Some of our veteran staff may even remember her visit to Hanover a few years ago-she recalled the trip with fondness and even her trip through our tunnels.

Our Approach to Learning

Today, as I walked to my office, I noticed a group of paper mache lungs in Cheryl Clark's classroom and went in the classroom to explore further. I learned from Cheryl that the students were studying the respiratory system and had used two of their art classes, with Randy Wiskow, to create the paper mache lungs. This  approach to learning is common here at Cardinal Cushing. Our students have their lessons taught and reinforced across several educational settings.

A Prayer for Bad Times by Richard Cardinal Cushing

I think that during these difficult times, this prayer by our founder...

Dear God,

Help me be a good sport in this game of life. I don't ask for an easy place in the lineup. Put me anywhere you need me. I only ask that I can give you 100 percent of everything I have. If all the hard drives seem to come my way, I thank you for the compliment. Help me remember that you never send a player more trouble than he can handle.

And, help me, Lord, to accept the bad breaks as part of the game. May I always play on the square, no matter what the others do. Help me study the Book so I'll know the rules.

Finally, God, if the natural turn of events goes against me and I'm benched for sickness or old age, help me accept that as part of the game too. Keep me from whimpering that I was framed or that I got a raw deal. And when I finish the final inning, I ask for no laurels. All I want is to believe in my heart that I played as well as I could and that I didn't let you down.

Massachusetts Budget Will Hurt Those We Care About

It is time to act. For those of you that have not had a chance to do so, it's time to email and phone your representative and senator. Ask him or her to list DDS and disability services as one of their top 3 priorities to his/her respective chair: Senator Steven Panagiotakos or Representative Charley Murphy.


We are still in the midst of the most severe economic recession since the Great Depression and we need to share our voices so that our neighbors, communities and decision makers can appreciate how damaging any further cuts can be.

Please include your personal story if possible. Also, please phone to follow up your email message.

Who should care and what can you do?

We all should care. If you are an adult with a disability who uses services or a family member with a child or adult living at home you may be affected when employment/day and family support services are reduced.

If you are graduating high school and hope to receive adult services through the Turning 22 program (transition), you should care and be worried about what will be available.

In addition to DDS services, Early Intervention and MRC (Mass. Rehab) services have been slated to be reduced.

What you can do?

Contact your representative or senator via email and phone

Cardinal Cushing Supports March 3rd as Day to "Spread the Word to End the Word"

Cardinal Cushing Centers, Special Olympics, Best Buddies and supporters from across the world will unite in support of a grassroots movement challenging the use of an outdated word that must be recognized for its hurtful impact on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). On March 3rd, Spread the Word to End the Word awareness day will commence - engaging schools, organizations and communities by raising the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed),” and encouraging everyone to stop using the R-word by signing our pledge and encouraging their friends and families to do the same.


Following the successful launch of the awareness day by youth with and without IDDs in March 2009, Spread the Word to End the Word Day 2010 will continue the progress toward making the world a more accepting place for all people. Youth leaders are encouraging people to rally and pledge their support at www.r-word.org with the goal of reaching 100,000 pledges and also to show their support through merchandise at the new http://www.r-wordstore.com/.

Spread the Word to End the Word began as a grassroots campaign by youth who participated in the Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit in February 2009, held in conjunction with the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho. The campaign was driven by a united passion to promote the positive contributions people with IDDs make to communities around the world combined with a simple call to action – a pledge to stop using the R-word.


Motivated by their commitment to action, actor John C. McGinley from the hit television series Scrubs was inspired to join these youth and their dedication to stop the casual use of the R-word.



“Most people don’t think of this word as the language of hate, but that’s exactly what it feels like to millions of people with intellectual disabilities, their families and friends,” said McGinley. “I choose to believe that most of us are fundamentally good and that we’re just not aware that the word is offensive and that it hurts.”

Students and schools across the U.S. and around the world continue to unite in their challenge for everyone to think before they speak. On March 3, 2010, youth will coordinate simultaneous pledge drives, campaigns, and educational opportunities through Spread the Word to End the Word, engaging communities and advocates to encourage everyone to pledge to stop the use of the word at www.r-word.org.

Soeren Palumbo and “Timbo” Shriver (son of Special Olympics Chairman, Timothy Shriver), who together launched the Spread the Word campaign last year, said: "This campaign powerfully combines two things: the creative vision of a world accepting of all people and a youthful drive to realize this vision. It calls people to do more than volunteer and advocate; it inspires them to join, drive, and lead a social movement for the dignity of people with intellectual disabilities. And that's why it works."

Special Olympics and Best Buddies hope that this day becomes an annually recognized day to raise awareness and ultimately encourage acceptance and respect for people with IDDs in everyday lives.

The offensive usage of the R-word most recently made headlines as White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel was quoted using this term. As a response to a letter written by Special Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy Shriver regarding this, he and several other passionate advocates on this issue met with Chief of Staff Emanuel at the White House.

Special Olympics and Best Buddies encourage people to get involved and find out more information on Spread the Word to End the Word by visiting the official campaign website at www.r-word.org, or our Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/EndtheWord. Fans can also follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EndtheWord.

Spread the Word merchandise including t-shirts, buttons, bracelets and more can be purchased at www.r-wordstore.com in support of the movement.

Cushing Community Responds to Haiti

Our community is responding in many ways to the emergency in Haiti. Immediately after the earthquake, our Campus Ministries coordinated a service and began collecting health, toiletries, food items and eyeglasses. Our Student Council ran bake sales and is collectign small change in bottles around the campus. We have reached out to our staff who have lost family members and friends. One of our staff members will be visiting Haiti, along with members of her church, to search for her family and bring the items we have collected and our prayers.