“Most Things are Possible When You Assume Problems Can Be Solved.” ― Judith Heumann
CPS has at least 52,000 students with learning, developmental and physical disabilities.
In honor of the parents and caregivers (typically women) who advocate for their children every day, I am sharing a powerful conversation with Amy Nussbaum. Amy is a disability rights advocate, mom of a daughter with Williams Syndrome, and CPS parent. Amy is fighting for her daughter AND every CPS parent who can’t hire a lawyer and doesn’t have the time or energy to fight.
Listen to it like a podcast or watch the video (about 35 minutes long). Change starts at home when parents demand equality and equity for their children in public schools.
May is Williams Syndrome Awareness Month, so Amy and I are sharing this on May 1 in honor of her daughter, Libi, who is a CPS student with Williams Syndrome.
Leadership is listening and elevating critical voices. Leadership is using real research. Leadership is having difficult conversations and being brave to say and commit to doing better.
As I earn the opportunity to be your elected Board of Education member, I want you to know that this role is critically important. Board members need to be leaders with real experience working with big numbers and big issues to create big solutions that unite all adults and save lives.
Statistics from the Sun Times:
Accessibility remains an issue for many CPS facilities. The district, in its fall 2023 strategic plan, said it needed $580 million to address ADA accessibility at its schools. CPS has said it would commit $100 million over five years, starting in its 2021 budget, to addressing ADA accessibility to parking lots, main entrances, main offices and public restrooms.
About a third of CPS campuses are not ADA accessible, according to CPS’ last facilities assessment in the 2021-22 school year. Another third of schools are considered “first-floor usable,” meaning the first floor of a school is ADA accessible, according to CPS. Just under a third, 167 of 522 campuses, were considered ADA compliant, according to the school. The district expects that a third of the remaining noncompliant schools will be upgraded to “first-floor usable” by the next assessment in 2025.
Current CPS Resources:
Here is the official CPS Special Education Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services https://www.cps.edu/services-and-supports/special-education/
Here is information about the CPS Board of Education Special Education Advisory Committee https://www.cpsboe.org/news/article/2040/communication-re-2023-2024-schedule-of-special-education-advisory-committee-meet
What can you do today?
Call the district and ask questions
Talk to your principal and understand their sphere of control (it might be more limited than your realize)
Review and sign Amy’s petition if you’re interested: https://www.change.org/p/protest-chicago-public-schools-for-discriminating-against-disabled-students
Join our movement to get Kimberly Brown voted to the Board of Education
Additional Books/Resources from Kimberly and Amy