Jillian Mercier

I am asking this bill not be voted in. Inclusion is important. My child is in the Keene School district and there is already a battle to include her. She is blind and a wheelchair user. There are 5 elementary schools in Keene. Our home elementary school does not have accessibility for a wheelchair user. While this is not ADA complaint the school district has no plans to change it. I asked for a variance to a school that is accessible and I was told no. The only option I was given was to send my child out of district to school that specializes in "children like her" as quoted from the case manager. My child deserves to be around typical peers just like everyone else. She deserves an education just like any typically functioning student. She should not be forced to hide away because of her disabilities. The school district wants to push her aside- out of sight out of mind. They made it clear my child does not matter. A bill like this will continue to strip my child of her rights. It takes away my rights as a parent to be part of the IEP process and part of the decision making for my child. It takes children like mine and hides them away leaving the susceptible to abuse and neglect. All child belong.