1. Diverse class offers new lessons
Inclusion of special needs students can enrich learning experience for all
By Doug Wilson Herald-Times Staff Writer
December 7, 2001
Aaron Meyers, left, and Ashley
Belgarde pose for a photo at Childs
Elementary School Wednesday.
STAFF PHOTO BY JEREMY
HOGAN
Aaron Myers cried out in high-pitched squeals Wednesday as Childs Elementary fifth-grade
teacher Liz Feddersen discussed the human brain.
Eleven-year-old Ashley Belgarde reached over to Aaron's wheelchair and rubbed his arm.
Ashley listened intently to Feddersen, filling out a worksheet with her right hand while
comforting Aaron with her left.
Then Aaron became quiet. He clutched the Mickey Mouse music box Ashley gave him last
Christmas and smiled.
Such reactions from Aaron evoke strong feelings from classmates. Sixth-grader Josh Harris
broke into tears when talking about his 13-year-old best friend, whose developmental disabilities
limit him to mental functioning at a 2-year-old's level.
"I like being with him and doing things with him so much, it almost makes me cry when he gets
real upset," Josh said. "Then a little later, he'll be screaming and happy. It makes me feel good
inside."
Just over a decade ago, Josh and Ashley wouldn't have met Aaron, who would have spent all
day, every school day with other special education students.
Although federal laws in the early 1970s began requiring inclusion of special education students
in general education classrooms, change has come slowly, experts say. The Monroe County

2. Community School Corp. got rid of its "separate, but equal" practices in 1991, special education
director Mike Horvath said.
Now many local special education students spend all day in general education classrooms.
Others, with severe disabilities such as Aaron's, spend as much of the day with non-special
education students as their behavior allows.
Some special education students have an aide, who helps them in the classroom, although this
practice isn't used unless necessary because it reduces the students' interaction with the teacher
and other students.
The special education program varies from one MCCSC school to another. Templeton
Elementary, for instance, has developed what national experts consider a model program for
inclusion. Templeton teachers provide individualized instruction for all students, based on their
talents and needs.
Regardless of a school's structure for including special education students, their behavior is often
challenging for teachers in general education classrooms. This was the case with Aaron when he
arrived at Childs three years ago, his father, Duncan Myers, says.
Aaron was on strong anti-seizure medication that made his stomach hurt. He had trouble
adjusting to a new school and cried a lot.
Then Ashley saw Aaron on the playground one day and decided he needed a friend. She started
pushing him on the swings at recess and helping him eat at lunch and participate in the
classroom.
Soon other children saw what Ashley was doing and became interested in Aaron as well. There
is now a sign-up sheet with the names of 70 students who take turns spending time with Aaron.
On Wednesday, greetings of "Hi, Aaron" came from many students in Feddersen's class as
special needs teacher Ruthann Birch wheeled him into the room. Aaron and six other Childs
special education students spend as much of the day as they're able in general education
classrooms and the rest of the day in Birch's room.
Aaron attends gym and music classes, which he loves. He also is involved in his regular fifth-
grade classroom's activities, such as watching videotapes. Teachers say he is progressing in skills
such as eating by himself and using his walker — and they hope his school experiences will help
him develop the skills as an adult to hold a job involving a repetitive, simple task.
Myers, who is the sales manager at WGCL radio, says the special education resources the
MCCSC offers are far superior to those available in Daviess County, in southern Indiana, where
the Myers family lived used to live.
Before Myers accepted the position at WGCL, he was offered a job out of state and declined it
because Aaron wouldn't have received the same support at the local schools.

3. The MCCSC will spend $7 million this school year on special education, including about $1.4
million in federal aid and $5.6 million in local funding — a big investment, but a worthwhile
one, according to Myers.
"People with special needs in this world deserve a chance," Myers said. "Aaron would have no
chance with the level of care he gets."
Aaron lives on weeknights at Maxwell House, a group home operated by Stone Belt. The Myers
family hope eventually to bring him home for more than weekends, but are on a long waiting list
for the Medicaid waiver necessary to afford the 24-hour care necessary for Aaron's health.
In the meantime, Myers gets some of his best time with music-loving Aaron by taking him to
church choir practice and visiting him at school, where Aaron's face lights up when Myers
arrives.
Last week, buddies Ashley, Josh, Casey Albright and T.C. Hall attended Aaron's birthday party
at the Myers home. They taught him a secret handshake and gave him hugs and gifts, including a
teddy bear, an electronic guitar that plays music and a keyboard that Aaron can use to create his
own tunes.
"He's such an important part of my life. He's like a family member," said T.C., a fifth-grader who
believes her life is made better by helping all of Childs' special education students.
Like other students, T.C. has learned to cope with the difficult times when Aaron becomes upset.
When Aaron cried as he was strapped into his wheelchair Wednesday, T.C. sang in his ear, "You
are my sunshine, my only sunshine," and the tears turned to smiles.
Aaron's value in the lives of other students was demonstrated last year when his class made a
book with pictures and words describing the lessons they have learned from Aaron. They wrote
many things, but especially that they have learned to appreciate those who are different and to be
thankful for their own health and abilities.
And Myers appreciates Aaron's friends more than they can imagine.
"We keep that book in our safe," Myers said. "It means more to me than any other possession. If
our house burns down, the book would be a bigger loss than the contents of our home."
Reporter Doug Wilson can be reached at 331-4369 or by e-mail at dwilson@heraldt.com.
Copyright: HeraldTimesOnline.com 2001