Photo by Valdemaras D. on Unsplash

Parents often describe the time after a student finishes with high school school as “falling off the cliff.” What do they mean by that?

Every child in this country has a guaranteed right to an education, regardless of their disabilities. In my early twenties, I worked as a special education teacher in the South Bronx at a school for multiply disabled children. There was one room that was just for children in semi-vegetative states. They were wheeled into the school in chairs and special beds. The teacher and the aides made sure that the kids were fed and clean, but they couldn’t do much except for play music and talk softly in their ears. 

Public schools must educate all kids from eight to three every day with rights guaranteed by the Individuals with Disability Act. Yes, some schools take that mission more seriously than others, but, even in the worst situations, schools must watch your kid all day or send them to alternative school. Parents have the right to get lawyers involved and demand that they make changes. Parents know that their kids are safe and watched by a certified public school teacher, who holds at least a BA.

With that sort of security, it’s possible to go on parenting autopilot for years. Kid gets on the bus in the morning. Kid gets back in the afternoon. Kid goes to therapy or an activity. Make dinner. Watch TV. Go to Bed. Repeat.

Read more at my disability newsletter, “A Great Leap”