Maybe this isn't something that you speak much of in fear of offending that person you care about, or maybe you speak about it every day. 'The Cost of Special Privileges" blog is written by Michaela Mulroe, who dives into her observations and experiences within various groups and individuals. As a child, Michaela's education was held in two classrooms; she learned with students who had disabilities and students who did not have disabilities. Unfortunately, often those identified with a disability did not learn with students identified without disabilities.
Michaela shares her stance regarding the special education system as a child and as an adult. She believes that separating and providing different care and attention to those with a disability or those who simply learn differently creates a 'cost' to their ability to advance themselves. Escape into Michaela's stories that will provide an invigorative angel on society's interaction with people who have a disability.
Wheels rolled and squeaked through the hallway at Maywood Elementary School in 2001, Michaela observed classrooms with students who were reading, writing, and counting. She was accompanied by her best friend and the assistant teacher, while the primary preschool teacher continued teaching her classmates' curriculum.
This habit came to a halting stop by Michaela's dad's presence who expected his children to learn and play with everyone else. Although Michaela's friend was the lucky one to continue pushing the shopping cart around the school, yet in the long run this privilege came with a cost due to continuation of the "privileges" that kept the friend separated from the group. This was the introduction of Michaela's exposure to separation between people with disabilities and those without it.
The following series presents snippets of Michaela's experience and observations within the special education system as a student, as a neighbor to an adult special needs man, as an assistant to the Adaptive group, and as an After School Teacher.