PUBLISHER'S CORNER
WALKING IN THEIR SHOES TONY CORPIN, PUBLISHER
really resonated with me — I’m sure you’d feel the same — centered on a waiter standing up for a child with Down syndrome. A mother and her son were dining at a Houston restaurant only to hear people at the table next to them remark: “Special needs kids need to be special somewhere else rather than here.” At that moment, the waiter stepped in and confronted those patrons and refused to serve them, causing them to leave. Others who witnessed the incident reportedly commended the waiter’s courage, and the restaurant owners supported the action because they said the waiter made the right decision in sticking up for the child. Tis story is a great example of how people genuinely care for children with special needs, those
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who often can’t stand up for themselves; but, it’s also a sad reminder that many people continue to re- spond with ridicule and contempt. In a recent blog posted on
STNonline.com, attorney and industry consultant Peggy Burns describes a recent periodontal visit that left her feeling helpless when given “laughing gas” for a gum graft procedure. Tis experience, she writes, helped her to better identify with children with disabilities and what they experience on a daily basis. Besides dealing with physical, developmental or emotional challenges, this student population
can also feel helpless when it comes to how others mistreat them. Kids with special needs generally have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Section 504 plans that can be useful in crafting specialized approaches for not only their educational needs but that also are aimed at preventing and responding to bullying and harassment. But does your district have a specific plan in place that ad- dresses the dangers associated with bullying and how to respond and report to them, such as NAPT’s program developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education? Do you share it with your staff in addition to students? Even if you do, children with disabilities are still at a greater risk to endure bullying at school,
according to a host of studies, and many also face victimization at home. Cyberbullying and excessive aggression from siblings have become newly addressed areas of concern for researchers. According to
www.stopbullying.gov, “Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Elec- tronic technology includes devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers, and tablets as well as communication tools including social media sites, text messages, chat, and websites.” Children with developmental disabilities who spend large amounts of time on the computer are especially at risk to be victimized by online bullies. Transportation professionals are stewards for special children who ride the bus. Tese are very spe- cial passengers who require a little extra care and protection. So, remain vigilant to the very real and pervasive problem of bullying in schools and on the bus. Put yourself in their shoes.
s I read through the online headlines while preparing this column, I found a variety of stories: the presidential inauguration, the shooting at Lone Star College in Hous- ton, a school bus driver strike in New York City and the ramp up to the Super Bowl between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens. But the headline that
74 School Transportation News February 2013
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