LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – Are kids in special education getting the help they need to address their unique learning or social disabilities? That’s the focus of the documentary Preschool to Prison.
Director Dr. Karen Baptiste examines the public school system and how it serves children with special needs. Unfortunately, when kids don’t receive the proper support, she says schools can begin to feel like a sort of prison for them.
She notes that many people, including parents, don’t have a basic understanding of the different classifications of disabilities children may have or how to effectively support them to achieve academic success.
“What we found is that there isn't even foundational knowledge and understanding about what special education is. Special education is a set of services. However, we've been using it as a placement in this country, and so because it's been used as a placement, you'll have parents that refuse the services. So while making the film, what we discovered was that most people didn't have the basic foundational knowledge about what special education is. And then, of course, once you start adding variables such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, zip code, then we really start to see the disconnect and the disproportionality of how children are treated,” says Dr. Karen Baptiste, director of Preschool to Prison.
On Monday, Dr. Baptiste will hold a workshop in Lima for parents, educators, and professionals to discuss strategies for better supporting children with learning disabilities.
“I want people to really think about, you know, the saying of many hands make light work. And it's true. We need many hands right now, and everybody is responsible, because when we think about the ultimate impact on society, what kind of society will we have if we don't foster the well being of our children,” adds Dr. Baptiste.
Those interested in attending the workshop can register by using the QR code provided in the flyer below.
