The Times ran a thoughtful article about the challenges schools face in educating kids with multiple and severe disabilities. Many of these have significant cognitive challenges that make simple communication a daunting challenge. I went to school with many kids like the ones described in the article and they were typically the most segregated and isolated, remaining almost completely invisible to the rest of the students. I have no doubt that they needed to be in a special ed classroom for most of the day, but they probably could have benefited from having some contact with their able-bodied peers down the hall. The kids described in the article seem to be equally isolated, having little interaction with anyone besides the teachers and aides. I understand that educating these kids–to the extent made possible by their disabilities–is the top priority and that many of them have can’t form traditional social connections. But more than most, students with severe disabilities need some contact with the rest of the world, just as the world needs to be reminded of their presence.
