Who's the Slow Learner? A Chronicle of Inclusion and Exclusion

by Sandra Assimotos McElwee

Sean McElwee was born with Down syndrome, and entered his neighborhood school as a general education kindergarten student with the supports, accommodations and modifications he needed to be successful. He was included in all aspects of his elementary school; learned to read, exceled in math, performed in Talent Shows and most of all made many friends. Elementary school was such a wonderful learning and nurturing experience-then the horrors of Secondary school began-and sadly never ended. Struggling to be included where the students were welcoming but the educational staff was ignorant of Inclusive Best Practices and unwilling to learn, Sean survived. High school educators limited his ability to participate by violating his Civil Rights multiple times; denying access to electives, sports and elections. Sean's mother learned laws she never thought she needed to know, and tried teamwork, diplomacy, and finally became punitive with Compliance and Civil Rights Complaints. Who's the Slow Learner includes creative examples of accommodations and modifications. Education Law unfolds in their story revealing the hard lesson that while Inclusive Education is the law, you cannot legislate attitudes. This is the first book that chronicles a student with special educational needs from preschool to high school graduation. It is a story of triumphs and successes; losses and failures. Not a "how to" book but the chronicle of "how they did it" as Inclusion pioneers forging the way. Written in the hopes that parents and educators can learn from the achievements and errors made on both sides.

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2014

Reviews

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book and I enjoyed learning about her son and her fight to advocate for what was best for him. My only issue with the book is that she has a very negative opinion of self-contained classrooms and as a teacher of a self-contained classroom for many years, I have a strong belief that they can be beneficial for some students. I definitely agree that if a student can be successful in an inclusion environment, then that is where he/she should be. However, there are some students who grow more academically, behaviorally, and socially in a self-contained classroom than in a gen ed class full time. If a student ever entered my classroom and I had even the smallest feeling that he/she would be better served in a gen ed class with inclusion support, I did everything in my power to change that students learning environment, but there were MANY students who blossomed in all areas in my classroom. I included them in gen ed for any activities possible and I brought reverse inclusion peers into my room for more interaction opportunities. I don't feel that a self-contained classroom is the negative environment that the author believes it to be, so it bothered me a little that this was the impression she put out there to others.

All in all, I recommend anyone who is trying to advocate for their child to read this book.

[Teresa Unnerstall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandra takes the reader with her as she advocates and breaks barriers for her son to be supported in an inclusion school environment. It's the story of the challenges and obstacles she faced with her son, and ultimately what her efforts did to give him more inclusion opportunities. She lead the way to make him a successful young adult with Down syndrome. Sandra provides lots of sound advice and tips for parents and professionals navigating students with special needs.

[Ronna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because I've discovered the show, "Born This Way". A fun read.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who's the Slow Learner: A Chronicle of Inclusion and Exclusion is Sandra Assimotos McElwee's story of her son, Sean's progress from pre-k through twelfth grade. Sean has Down Syndrome, and it was important to McElwee that his opportunities for an educational experience not be limited by a diagnosis. As McElwee explains, Who's the Slow Learner is not a "how to" book, but a book about how she and her family did it.

McElwee lives in California, and her district's practice was to put all children with Down Syndrome into special classrooms. McElwee wanted Sean to be fully included with his age appropriate classmates, and was very successful through 6th grade. Once Sean hit 7th grade, his experience changed, not because of the fabled mean middle school kids, but because of adult bullies who were slow to learn just what Sean was capable of achieving. Every child is different, and every district is different, but the lessons that McElwee learned could be meaningful anywhere.

Each chapter covers a grade for Sean, and begins with his IEP (Individualized Education Plan) goals for that year. Because the goals are supposed to tailored for each child, Sean's goals may provide some ideas for parents and districts, but are not something that can be cut and pasted into another child's IEP. McElwee also provides verbatim copies of letters to and from district staff members, which were very fact specific, but provide good examples of how to effectively communicate your point, even if you are furious. The rest of each chapter talks about Sean's experiences during that year.

McElwee is Sean's biggest advocate, and she works hard to be sure that Sean is included in extracurricular activities as well as the classroom. Sean is in plays, participates in choir, takes dance lessons, attends school dances, runs for student office, and manages the baseball team, all during his high school years. He even finds time to date a tv star, Becky from Glee. This is California, remember.

Although I don't have a child with Down Syndrome, I could still relate to McElwee's story. Who's the Slow Learner is a must read for parents of children with Down Syndrome who are struggling with inclusion, and a should read for parents of children with autism or cognitive impairments who are facing the same challenges.

To read more of this review, please click here: http://sonotarunner.blogspot.com/2014...

[Ame · Rating 4 out of 5]

This "Down Syndrome Parenting" kind of memoir is more my style than the usual "pity me, why is my child different?" book that is typically written when the child in question is barely 2 years old (f*** those parents, by the way). Sandra McElwee opts to include Sean's IEP information for EVERY year of school from Kindergarten through High School, which is immensely helpful information. There are entirely too many inspirational quotes in this text, and it displays a few self-published elements, but the content is still invaluable to me. Rather than try to memorize the information year-by-year, I'm hoping to have this as a back-up tool as my own son progresses through the public school education system.

[Hank Pharis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sean was born with Down's Syndrome but was blessed with a mother tenaciously committed to doing everything possible to help him be "mainstreamed" all the way through high school. The principals and teachers were very helpful in elementary school. However Middle School and High School were a great struggle. You have to admire her commitment and persistence. Lots of great stories and great quotes here.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://reneesuz.blogspot.com/2014/02/...

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I reviewed this book here: http://turnthepagelisa.wordpress.com/...