Welcome

My name is Anne Marie DelPrincipe living in Bridgewater, Nj with twins daughters (15 yrs old) attending public school system. Both have mild case of CP but they are able to cope with the every daily activities. You need to analyze each child's ability and determine if that environment is manageable for the child. There is no one place that is perfect all students.

Some students that are not physically challenge but have anger issues need to be in a school that is away from the obstacles. Therefore, a child that is serevely disabiled should go to a school designed to help that child without the pressures and stress that lingers among the hallways of normal public school system. It is very costly to have a teacher tailored for one child when there are special facilities to help many children with the same severe disabilities. I am very fortunate that my twin girls can see, talk, hear, comprehend, straight A students, and the only issue (expensive) is a slight limp in their gait. They are mainstreamed and they were also fortunate to meet two other friends one with CP and one with spina bifida in adaptive gym.

My advice is that is no cut and dry wth disabilties because of the different levels so take each case and determine the abilities of that child. I do not believe that a child with disabilties should be pressured into society if that child has no chance of simulating. I feel this way because I grew up with two sisters that were mentally retarded (my godmother's daughters) and they were able to work in a special place in the Bronx. Now in the 50's, they continue to take the city bus by themselves to and from work. They have friends as well who comes and visits them (they are also mentally changelled). However, my first cousi's son (26 years old) is also mentally retarded and he can not simulate in society. It is difficult to cope with strangers and the outside world do not have the logic or the sense to understand his behavior. My cousin decided that the best place for him is home. I feel that he needs to go to a special school to learn how to simulate in the workforce.

I was very fortunate to grow up with people with disabilities because I was prepared for my challenges and knew immediately the directions I had to take for my twins. The Bridgewater High School has been excellent with my demands because I know what my children have to have. Most parents have no clue of the rights. For example, I knew that in NJ there is no law that have to separate twins. I had my girls in the same class up to high school. When they tried to refuse my request, I simply said there is no such law and hope you have time to speak to my lawyer. I also told them that my children will have surgery every year, I need to balance their schedule and mine simultaneously. I do not have the motivation to keep a schedule who has what test, report, etc from two different classes. I needed to be on the same page...end of story and of course I won!!

If you need to contact me just email me at delprin@verizon.net....I know alot more...I am like the advocate for my town.

Sincerely,
Anne Marie DelPrincipe