ABC 7 Explores No Child Left Behind Act with EFE and Clients

Concerns for Children with Disabilities Aired

Karen I. Ward, EFE Senior Counsel, appeared with Austin Kremer, a seventh grade student with Down syndrome, and his parents, Mitch and Anne Kremer, on Chicago's ABC 7 News on July 18 to discuss educational opportunities for children with disabilities in the wake of President Bush's January 8 No Child Left Behind Act.

The interview, which aired on the 11:30 a.m. news program, was hosted by Karen Meyer, a reporter who focuses on stories about people with disabilities. ABC is the only network in the Chicago area to feature a broadcaster devoted to disability issues. Meyer herself is deaf.

Championed by many for its intent, the No Child Left Behind Act targets closing the achievement gap between disadvantaged students, including children with disabilities, and their peers.

And yet, some aspects of the Act worry Austin's parents, particularly the tougher standards in math and reading. Mitch voiced his concerns that the true ability of a student may not be reflected in the test scores used to determine the accountability of schools. "Some kids do testing well; other kids don't. For example, Austin, our son, needs accommodations to take tests, and if schools don't accommodate well, then kids will not do well on testing," he said.

Each state has to develop a plan to comply with the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. The Kremers' best advice for other parents of children with disabilities who want to ensure that the Act positively affects their children was to keep abreast of their children's rights. "Ask questions of your school people, build a good relationship with your school people and seek support outside of the school too," said Anne.

Karen I. Ward helped the Kremers defend Austin's rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act when the elementary school Austin had been attending wanted to recommend putting him in a self-contained classroom for middle school. "The main point behind the law is for [students with disabilities] to have an opportunity to be educated with peers and to have a meaningful education and a meaningful educational experience," said Ward. =

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