School Choices Pt 2 – Choosing The Madonna School

So we left off last blog at the impasse between the public school system and me when Marcus was not yet 5 years old. What happened next is someone told me about a local school for special needs students called the Madonna School.

“OK. We’ll look into it.”

In 1995 we toured the school, a small converted church in Benson, desperate for an option…We were greeted by book pages covering the principal’s floor. He apologized for the disarray, explaining he was creating the 40 odd math syllabuses for the nearly 50 students.

“Wait-” I said. “You don’t force everyone into three peg-hole options?” Marcus was only five years old and I already displayed battle fatigue from our public school experiences. The idea of school staff being on the same team as Marcus, of our educating and preparing him together to face the world-that concept created hope.

What Forces People into Sheltered Workshops?

workshop pic

 

In my ongoing rant about the shifting tide for sheltered workshops, here’s the next question:

Does the mere existence of the sheltered workshop format limit options for those who will be better served by broader opportunities within the community?

Yes, it appears to be the case. I can literally hear in my mind the conversation–“Why do you (company) not employ those who are differently abled?” and the Dickens’ reply comes, “Are there not sheltered workshops? Institutions? Places for these people to be held?”

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