Citizenship in School: Reconceptualizing Down Syndrome

In this chapter of Christopher Kliewer's book, Kliewer argues about the issues that children with Down syndrome have to unfortunately face in our society and describes citizenship in school for children with Down syndrome. Students with disabilities (mental or physical) are usually segregated from the average classroom. It is unfair that society has embedded the idea of separation between people with disabilities and non-disabled people just because people with disabilities learn differently or at a different pace. Kliewer argues how children with down syndrome should be mixed in a classroom with non-disabled children. It is a great benefit to all children and should be enforced in the classroom. I believe people are afraid of change or maybe do not think there will be positive results. Reading this excerpt from the book made me think of the Ted talk video we watched in class, about the father who become a disability rights advocate after his son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The father shares his touching story and how he believes inclusive education can benefit all of us. 

These here are some quotes I liked from the reading. They give a good idea of the author's attitude on segregated classrooms.

"Educating all children together reconfigures the representation of Down syndrome from burden to citizenship."

"..the notion of Down syndrome often obscures our ability to recognize the child as a child."

"It's not like they come here to be labeled, or to believe the label, We're all here --- kids, teachers, parents, whoever, --- it's about all of us working together, playing together, being together, and that's what learning is. Don't tell me any of these kids are being set up to fail."