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Did you hear the news recently that told of the business executive -- at his company for 12 years -- who goaded his (white) co-workers to ostracize the single African-American employee and have her separated from the other workers? Of course the executive was discovered for what he’d done, senior brass brought in, and the executive was quickly fired for discrimination in the workplace. Justice was served, and onlookers breathed a sigh of relief. Well, that story was just a generalized example, one of many such incidents that occurs – whether racial or sexual discriminatory in nature. Here at the beginning of the 21st century, we almost expect such a perpetrator to get caught at this point. But swap out “African-American” from this story and replace it with “autistic” and all bets apparently are off.
Case in point: In May 2008, a Florida kindergarten teacher of 12 years, Wendy Portillo, allowed her students to “vote” 5-year old Alex Barton, who has autism, out of their classroom after the boy exhibited behavior problems. As a result, Portillo was suspended from teaching for one year without pay and her tenure was revoked. Justice served. But wait. As it turns out, yesterday the board of education reversed its decision. Now, come November, they’re to reinstate Portillo’s tenure where she is guaranteed a teaching position within the school district.
Welcome to an example of one of the last frontiers in American discrimination where those that are ‘wired’ differently are allowed to be communally expelled from an environment that is their legal right to enjoy, and those that incite such behavior are slapped on the wrist, but later provided guaranteed employment. While many who supported Ms. Portillo’s reinstatement, defending her character, contributions and desire to continue teaching, could make claim that hers was a “error in judgment,” how would the board have reacted if it had been a matter of voting a student out of a public school classroom because of his race or his religion, rather than his autism?
We can only speculate.
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Comments
....and can you imagine if anyone in a sales position or a commission business voted a rude customer out of the store?
How long would they last in the job?
i myself am find it hard to fit in with normal situations a was that kid who was discriminated against so harshly that i hated myself ..i had a teacher tell me once that if i could be quiet and not bug anyone he would pass me no matter my real grade, he took me completely away from all class interaction by putting me in the back of the room, where i gladly sat still trying to pay attention to his every word,my mom wondered why thier was never homework from that class, and assumed i was hideing it everyday,i wanted to learn but no one knew how to teach me (out of the box teaching)we need to learn agian how to teach,i bielieve a refresher course wouldnt hurt anyone
If a child has behaviors that interfer with their ability to learn or those around them they require a functional behavior assessment with positive behavirol supports not a vote ala Survivor.
It gets worse than that. I am an adult with Autism. My symptoms are in remission, and I really only have a problem with Anxiety. The ONLY obstacle between me and a healthy and productive future is the fact that since I also have Autism no one will treat me for Anxiety.
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