Are Charter Schools Discriminating Against Persons with Disabilities?

Charter schools in Florida and elsewhere are not admitting students with disabilities.  http://www.npr.org/2011/12/14/143659449/florida-charter-schools-failing-disabled-students.

While they claim they do not turn away students because of their disabilities, they do say they are not equipped to meet their needs.  Of course, then, one has to ask why they are not so equipped.  They are publicly supported.  Of course, not every public school is equipped for every student either, but students are more likely to have their needs met at most public schools. 

Part of the problem is that students with disabilities most often have Individualized Education Plans (IEP’s) and those IEP’s will not send a child to a school that cannot meet their needs. 

Some charter schools specialize in children with disabilities, but that is just another form of segregation and, unless it is really impossible to meet the needs of these students elsewhere, special schools are a giant step backwards. 

How widespread is this problem?  What are the solutions?

Annette Bourbonniere

www.accessing-ability.com

access-ability.verizon.net

Twitter:  @AccessInclude

Diversity Inc. Publishes Top 10 Companies

Diversity Inc. has published its top 10 Ten Companies for Recruitment and Retention http://www.diversityinc.com/article/8326/The-DiversityInc-Top-10-Companies-for-Recruitment--Retention

These companies all include disabilities in their diversity plan.  But, how do they recruit persons with disabilities when identification of persons with disabilities is not clear. 

It’s easy to identify persons who use wheelchairs or who are blind and some others, but what about people with perceptual problems or behavioral health disabilities or cancer or HIV/AIDS?  Many persons with disabilities do not disclose their disabilities because of their realistic concern that they will face discrimination. 

Another question is for what kind of jobs are persons with disabilities recruited?  Are they specifically recruited for call centers and other low-end jobs or work-at-home situations or are they recruited for all jobs?  What are the opportunities for advancement for persons with disabilities?

I’m not saying that these 10 companies fail in these areas because I honestly don’t know.  These areas are issues that many companies fail to address and these questions are questions that all companies should ask of themselves.

Annette Bourbonniere

www.accessing-ability.com

401-846-1960

Fax:  401-846-1944

Twitter:  @AccessInclude