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2003 - 2006: CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN
EANES ISD?
From: Dianna
Pharr [mailto:dpharr@austin.rr.com]
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2006 9:44 AM To: 'trustees@eanes.k12.tx.us'; 'nwellman@eanes.k12.tx.us';
'cmartin@eanes.k12.tx.us'
Cc: 'sneeley@tea.state.tx.us'; 'bgarza@tea.state.tx.us';
'cswain@tea.state.tx.us' Subject: Inclusion of disabled children in district
programs
April
21, 2006
Superintendent Nola Wellman,
Eanes ISD
leaders often talk about the importance of “community”.
This focus is in fact often an important criterion
when the board and Eanes ISD administration consider
funding decisions and facility use.
I write
to you to support the inclusion of disabled children in
the Eanes ISD Community Education Program including but
not limited to the “Summer Fun” program. I know that
you are aware of my opinion on this issue and I
understand that other parents are now working to address
this problem with the district as well.
As
SECAC president during the 03-04 school year, I
worked to resolve this issue within the district. As I
am sure you remember, I also spoke with you and others
in the district as well in an attempt to resolve this
issue within the district. I also requested and
received related public information.
I believe
that all children, including those with special needs,
should be welcomed into the district’s community
programs. I believe that when a service such as “Summer
Fun” is included on a child’s IEP, that service should
be funded by the school district, not the parent. The
district’s position that parents should fund aides to
accompany disabled children to community education
programs is inappropriate at best.
I know that you, Rick
Dyer and Cindy Martin believe the district’s legal
counsel has researched this issue and believe the
district has no obligation to fund the aides or
insure that the community education program is
accessible to disabled children. However, I
continue to believe that the district should
provide and fund support that will allow all
children including those with disabilities to
participate in district programs including but
not limited to the Eanes ISD Community Education
program.
As you rally around
the idea of a $5M bond proposal to build an indoor
football field/”multipurpose activity center”, I ask
that you recognize that all children are valuable
and should be welcomed and included in our
community.
Thank
you,
Dianna
Pharr
cc:
Shirley Neeley, TEA Commissioner
Bonnie Garza, TEA Special Education
Complaints Division
Cindy Swain, TEA Special Education
Complaints Division
You may
remember
that the
KidVenture
Camp
with
whom
EISD has
contracted
to take
over the
Summer
Fun
program
told me
that my
child
could
not
attend
unless I
provided
a
full-time
aide at
my
expense
because
she is
in a
wheelchair. Charging
people
with
disabilities
extra
fees is
specifically
disallowed
by the
Americans
With
Disabilities
Act. W
hen
I
complained
about
this to
Nola
Wellman,
Cindy
Martin,
Bill
Bechtol
and my
school
principal,
I
received
no
response.
I
therefore
then
filed a
complaint
with the
US Dept
of
Education
Office
of Civil
Rights
alleging
discrimination
against
my child
on the
basis of
her
disability.
Read
more
here
...
