Special ed kids need money, not talk
June 17, 2006 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
“Special ed kids need money, not talk” is the title of an article by Helen Henderson in today’s Toronto Star: 
Words are cheap. Ontario is using a lot of them to trumpet its efforts to improve crucial classroom supports for kids who, given the right tools, can make this province proud.
But it is money that really talks and there has been no significant commitment here to fix the tragic mess confirmed in the province’s long-awaited report on special education reform released this month.
Money does seem to do the talking when it comes to special education. Autism parents in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago are alike up in arms about cuts in staff and support services for their children, as reported in The Journal & Topics Newspapers on June 13th. Lower costs to taxpayers are trumpeted as the main reason for the creation of some new autism public school programs in New Jersey.
“Cost-effective” education does not mean effective education.
