FAPE (not to be confused with "VAPE")

Let's really talk inclusion. What does it mean in terms of the law? Federal guidelines spells out what inclusion means for students with special needs: Free Appropriate Public Education. According to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ALL children have the right to a free and appropriate education. Jennifer Price, JD, described my commitment to a free and appropriate education to all students in this letter to the editor in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, May 4, 2021. I realized at a conference on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that 75% of adults on the spectrum are unemployed or underemployed (A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, 2021). That is astonishing and one of the reasons I reached out to Mike Doyle (D- Allegheny) to discuss his initiatives to support employment opportunities and training for students experiencing ASD and other special needs. It is our ethical and moral duty to prepare all children for the future.

I wish I had a statistic for how many people I talk to that have told me they moved to Murrysville because of Franklin Regional's commitment to support students with special needs. We can continue to do this and I would like to extend the work that I have done with legislators in the past to see if they can support the great work we are doing here in Murrysville to help students not just thrive while they are here, but build a future upon graduating so we can shift that unemployment number downward. We have an amazing community of businesses and industries to tap into to help prepare all students for a great future.

Thank you, Jennifer, for all the work you do with our students with special needs and their families. Thank you, also, for your endorsement and support.