Lydia

Lydia

            Lydia’s story is a remarkable one about one family’s commitment to help their daughter who was born with cerebral palsy.  Lydia was a student in the district in Iowa where I was the principal and the Decorah District was the neighboring district where I was on the School Board, where my sons attended and where the exceptional special education services were provided that involved some incredible assistive technology that has allowed her to become an advocate and a voice for others with physical challenges.  Her story is worth reading and is linked on the sidebar.

            Not having special needs students in the school is one of the unfortunate disadvantages of being in an international school.  Without special needs children learning beside our students there is much lost in the education process and doesn’t allow our students to learn about unbelievably determined girls like Lydia.  There is significant criticism about USA Public School education but the programs offered for special education students from birth onward are second to none in the world.

            It would be my hope that your son might have the opportunity to work with and to become friends with students who have special needs at some point. These are experiences that should be a part of every student’s education and life.  How can one not be inspired by Lydia, her family and the school all who have worked together to teach her what it means to be a citizen for the 21^st Century?