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| By Erin O'Connor Staff Writer AGAWAM Ellen Chambers, the founder of SpEdWatch, spoke at the Agawam Public Library on Oct. 31 to a room full of 20 concerned parents about Massachusetts' failure to meet Special Education needs. She said she believes this will be the next civil rights movement for the country. "I came to understand as the result of my work that the educational rights of students with disabilities are going to continue to be violated unless parents at a grassroots level make a change," Chambers said. Chambers followed with examples of her concerns. "Students in wheelchairs cannot exit from the third floor during emergency evacuation when the elevator is not accessible," Chambers read from an audit report done by the Massachusetts Department of Education (MDE) of Blue Hills Regional Vocational High School in July 20, 2005. "What do we just hope no one dies?" she asked. Chambers said this is one of many items that the Federal Department of Education (FDE) and the State Department of Education (SDE) have known about for years and have not remedied. Chambers, using information from FDE Compliance Reports, said that no serious action has been taken by the FDE against Massachusetts for failing to follow Special Education laws. "Massachusetts is letting towns like Agawam and other communities break the law," Chambers said. Chambers urged parents to put together a list of grievances that would then be taken to John Provost, the director for the Department of Special Education in Agawam. "This document is to adress systematic issues," Chambers said to the Reminder. More information about SpEDWatch can be found at www.spedwatch.org. |