HannahMagarian

45UpperCollegeRoad
4018741000
magarianh@my.uri.edu
7/26/2016
TheEditor
ToWhomItMayConcern:
ImwonderinghowyoupersonallythinkthecongratulatoryspeechalongwiththeYouareofficiallyan
alumofyourhighschool,andyouovercamewhatmanysaidwouldbechallengingforyou,andnowyou
arecompletelyandutterlyonyourown,speechfoldstogether?Youreright,thismakesabsolutelyno
sense.Thenwhyisthisessentiallythefarewellspeechgiventostudentsinspecialeducation?
Oftentimes,studentsreceivegreatservicesallthroughouttheiryearsofschoolingincludingsocial
therapy,aparaprofessionaltocarrythemthoughtheday,readingandotherspecialtyservices,andasafe
classroomtolearnin.Thenwhichevercomesfirsteithera21 stbirthdayorahighschooldiploma,allof
theseservicesarerevokedleavingmanyfamilieswithnothingiftheycannotaffordtheincrediblecoststo
keepthem.Ifspecialeducationstudentscontinuetohavetheirservicesimmediatelyrevokeduponhigh
schoolgraduation,thenbuildingadulthoodbecomesadifficultanddauntingtaskinwhichtheyaresetup
forfailure.
Thisimmediaterevocationofservicesoftenleadstogreatregressionorworsebeingjailtimeforthese
students.Ihavebeenapeermentorforalmost6yearsnowbyhelpingstudentsinthecommunitywith
physicalandmentaldisabilities.Iwillneverforgetthefeelingthatcameovermewhenapublicarticle
wasreleasedthatoneofmyformerclientshadendedupinjailforassaultinghismother.Thishappened
severalmonthsagoandthetopicstillmakesmesicktomystomach.Intheyearafterthisstudent
graduatedhighschoolinmyclass,thisoncebubbly,bright,andsmilespreadingstudentendedupserving
timeforacrimethathedidntunderstand.Oncestudentswithautismaswellasotherdisabilitiesstop
receivingthetherapiesthattheygrewuphavingsincetheageof5,theyhavenowheretoturnwhenthey
becomeoverstimulatedorconflictedwithasituation.Thisoftenleadstoviolenceorworseforkidsthat
dontunderstandwhatishappeningwhentheylosecontroloftheirbodies.AccordingtoTheArc,a
nationalorganizationsupportingthosewithdisabilities,410%oftheprisonpopulationiscomprisedof
thosewithintellectualdisabilities.Oftentimesforcrimesnotunderstoodorasituationthepersonwas
unawarethattheyshouldnthavebeenin.
Thesaddestpartisthatthereisabill,theWorkforceInnovationandOpportunityAct,(WIOA,2016)
whichaddresseseducationandworkforthosewithdisabilitiesupongraduationandothershavinghard
timeenteringtheworkforce(USDepartmentofEducation,2016).Theproblemisthatthebillisjust
takingonrenewalafter11yearsofbeinginactive(Hanks,2016).Oneofthelargestargumentsagainstthe
renewalisforcostreasons,buthowcanweputapriceondisplacingmembersofoursociety?Inaddition,
someoftheconditionsandthejobsavailableintheactarenotappropriateforthetypeofintegrationand
competitionforthosewithdisabilities,accordingtoTeressaJackson,astrongadvocateforthis
community.ByhavingtheWIOAinplaceyetnotlinedupwithjobsappropriateforthesestudentsweare
rightbackwherewestarted,exceptthistimewiththepresenceoffalsehope.

Bycreatingaprogramforthosewithdisabilitiestomoveintooncetheygraduatehighschool,wecan
provideasafeandsuccessfuladulthoodforthosewithspecialneeds.Rightnowwearesettingthese
studentsandtheirfamiliesupforfailureandforreasonsuponwhichwecanimprove.Havingyourentire
networkofasupportsystemthatyoureceivedatthemereageof5takenawayattheexpenseofa
diploma,whichshouldberewarded,isunacceptable.Providingthesestudentswithanoutletforabright
futureimprovesphysical,mental,andoverallhealthforthestudent(Jackson,2016).Thiscouldbedone
throughtheoutletofwork,assistedliving,orschoolingforthesestudentsafterhighschool.Ifeach
studentusedthemoneyasotherstudentsdowithcollegethiscouldbeapossibilityofthefuture.There
couldbeworkstudyandscholarshipprogramsthatcouldevenbebuiltintothecurrentcollegesthatwe
havetoday.Theproblemisthatmostcollegesareexclusiveandhardtogetinto,makingthissomething
communitycollegescouldofferforlowercosts.Thinkaboutthehopesanddreamsyouhaveforyour
family,students,andevenyourselfatthecrucialageof21wherelifelongchoicesaremade.Ihopethat
youhearmymessageandwantbetobeapartofthisextremelynecessarychange.
Sincerely,
HannahMagarian