December 10, 2001

This is addressed to: Education Minister Paula Cox

This letter was written after a sleepless night, so forgive me if my grammar is not up to my usual standards. I write this letter as a parent with regards to your interviews of late regarding to special needs' children.

I could not believe my ears on Friday (November 20th, 2001), when sitting down to listen to the news I was met with your interview with regards to you addressing the present situation of children with special needs. To hear your statement that you are looking at putting all children classed as special needs into a separate education system (or institute which would be I believe is the lay man's term).

I was sick to my stomach to hear that you are going to even consider reverting back to antiquated forms of education for our special children. When the rest of the world is progressing into the 21st Century with mainstreaming. How far we have come to now seem to be regressing to the easy way out for you, by removing these children who thrive in the mainstream environment. To now have them taken on for you to be considering taking these children out; if I am to state correctly, as it has not yet happened where this from of education is taken from our children.

Please do not think me naive to the situation, as I am a parent of a child who society considers special needs, despite having always functioned in a mainstream environment, who with assistance educationally, works along with his peers as he attends primary school. Socially my child has always been independent.

I know that there are many children who may benefit from this form of education, as their challenges maybe such that alternative education is a consideration; but this is a minority of the 180 or so children that Bermuda has who fall under the special needs label.

I say label, as this is how my child is listed under the education system first and not by his individual challenges. Not based upon having met my child on a one-on-one basis and very often reviewing my child's needs after reading an article from a textbook or a website.

The thought of having these children removed from the mainstream system sickens me to my stomach. Has having places like Hope homes helped any those individuals, who where placed there all those years ago. Was orange valley closed just for the sake of closing? With the comments given that these children are the product of some ill-doing of their parent, and this is the payment for their past evils. Yes persons running such places have said this.

How blessed are our children of today, to be brought up in such a melting pot of differences whether it be colour, gender or education status. Children with special needs are understood and accepted by our young children as being a part of life, because they are exposed to the many challenges that individuals can be faced with. They are no longer scared of seeing a child with these challenges, and their acceptance is far greater than us as adults, who have already often had present judgements, often though no fault of our own of the value of these children, as being part of the general populace?

I wrote this letter after receiving a letter today, (Thursday, December 6, 2001), to attend a meeting for parents of special needs' children, to address the current situation. Which I thought was funny because you have already stated on local news what you consider doing. The meeting has been called, (Thursday 13 December, 2001), at short notice at a time when many parents will be off-Island in preparation for the Christmas break, or when many schools and other establishments are hosting there annual Christmas events. Will these parents make every effort to attend; sure they will, but what about those who work on a schedule, which would have already been distributed at this late date. I hope this short notice, and show of concerns at this time of the year, was not just prompted in the hope of a possible lack of attendance, especially for the reasons above, including those who will be of island; was not your way of anticipating lack of attendance, because of prior commitments in order to evoke a quick decision on the matter.

I also wrote this letter after having to deal with a the current summer day programme situation in place for children considered having special needs, when attending government camps of their exclusion of full day attendance. This matter was discussed personally with the former Minister of Youth and Sports Dennis Lister, in July. Upon which I left the meeting assured he would get back to me or have some one address my concerns as a parent. To date I have not heard anything. My next step was to write a letter, after seeking advice from persons familiar with the challenges of the persons considered special needs. This was dated October 1st 2001 and to date I have not had any response. Although the letter has been cc: to the Minister of Education (then Milton Scott), and Premier Jennifer Smith.

Upon hearing your interview and now getting this notice to attend a meeting that I will not be able to attend because of family commitments overseas, I called and asked if I could set up an appointment to meet your good self, Minister Paula Cox, only to be told that you decide who you do and do not meet with (okay), and I have to write a letter. That you are only in office Mondays and Wednesdays, (where could you be the remaining days of the five-day working week) - that I could not be told.

To the request for a letter I advised your assistant that I would not be writing a letter after the lack of response from my former letter, so could she please have you call me to discuss this matter, So I could voice my concerns to my minister of education.

So back to square one, Minister Cox, I have left my number both day and evening with your assistant and although I do not expect you to call, I live in hope as we approach this season of reflection.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Minister Cox.

A VERY SPECIAL PARENT

Paget