Wed Oct 2 WMAZ 13 Report on Baldwin Co Special Ed

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Carol SadlerCoordinator, Cherokee/Cobb County, North Atlanta & Central GA CHADD(Children & Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)http://communitylink.accessatlanta.com/groups/chadd CHADDer e-newsletter: GA-CHADDer-subscribe & Parent to Parent Supporting Parent

High Number Of Special Ed Students A LOCAL SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS SHORT CHANGING SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS... AND YOU'RE PICKING UP THE BILL. AS JENNY GEER SHOWS US.. THERE'S AN ESPECIALLY BIG IMPACT IN BALDWIN COUNTY..

Special Ed In Baldwin >>BALDWIN COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT GENE TRAMMELL TOLD US THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO PICK UP 70-PERCENT OF THE COSTS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSES... BUT RARELY PAYS MORE THAN 30-PERCENT. BALDWIN COUNTY OFFERS A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS DON'T... LIKE CLASSES GEARED TOWARDS STUDENTS WITH AUTISM. AS A RESULT..STUDENTS TRANSFER IN FROM AS FAR AWAY AS ATLANTA. >>Okay Brad, touch him. Make him sing to me.<< FOR AN AVERAGE MIDDLE SCHOOLER.. A TOY LIKE THIS WOULD BE A LITTLE SILLY... AND SHAVING CREAM... KIND OF BORING... BUT FOR HEATHER WILCOX AND 13 YEAR OLD BRAD WILLIAMS... IT'S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. >> Wilcox, Special Ed. Teacher: We mostly just try to get them to respond to something.<<< SHE WORKS WITH FOUR SEVERE SPECIAL ED STUDENTS EVERY DAY. >>Wilcox: Three are in wheelchairs and one is mobile.<< PUSHES AND WALKS THEM... >>Wilcox: It's very demanding work. There's a lot of lifting involved.<< SHE LOVES IT... BUT SOMETIMES FEELS OVERWHELMED. >>Wilcox: A lot of times we feed two children at a tiem and it's very hard to take care of every child's needs at the same time.<< bALDWIN COUNTY HAS A UNIQUE PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS LIKE BRAD.. ONE THAT IDNETIFIES DISORDERS EARLY.. AND SPECIALIZED CLASSES FOR EACH DISABILITY LEVEL... TWENTY FOUR PERCENT OF STUDENTS AT OAK HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL ARE IN THE PROGRAM. WILCOX DOESN'T KNOW WHY THERE ARE SO MANY.. BUT SHE KNOWS WHY SHE LOVES TEACHING THEM...THEIR SMILES. EDUCATORS SAY THE LACK OF FEDERAL MONEY GOING IN TO SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS... FORCES TEACHERS TO FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO MAKE SURE THE INSTRUCTION OF OTHER STUDENTS ISN'T HURT... AND MANY TEACHER ALSO END UP GOING INTO THEIR OWN POCKETS... TO MAKE SURE THE STUDENTS GET WHAT THEY NEEED. JENNY GEER, 13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS.<<

Special Ed In Baldwin ACCORDING TO THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DURING THE 2000 SCHOOL YEAR...11-PERCENT OF BIBB COUNTY STUDENTS WERE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. WHILE 12-PERCENT OF STUDENTS IN HOUSTON COUNTY WERE IN SPECIAL ED.. IN BALDWIN THE NUMBER JUMPS TO NEARLY 17 PERCENT.