Case Study: Student with Special Needs

Case Study: Student with Special Needs
Precious D. Jacobs
Grand Canyon University
EDA 555 Legal Issues in Education
October 10, 2012

“Live life to the fullest as you do not know what tomorrow will bring.” This cliché is one that is used as a way to encourage someone to achieve and do all that he or she may want to do today as they may not have the same capabilities or abilities to do them at a later date. Last year my current school enrolled a student name Zac that many did not know at the time was diagnosed and living with Multiple Sclerosis. Although he walked on the tips of his toes, it was not alarming to any faculty or staff member that taught or held a vested interest in him. However, as the school year drew to a close, Zac began to miss several consecutive days from school and eventually was being transported to and from his classes in a wheelchair. When school year commenced, Zac continued to require the use of the wheelchair as a means to be mobile. As school began for the current school term, Zac returned in the wheelchair. Over the summer months, Zac’s Multiple Sclerosis (MS) had worsened which has left him totally dependent on the wheelchair for mobility. Although in the previous year Zac had several teachers, paraprofessionals, the nurse as well as other staff members assisting him with learning maneuver the chair, due to budget cuts, several positions were cut. At which point, a plan had to be devised determining those that would be responsible for assisting him with moving about the school’s campus, and getting to class and lunch. Zac did not require any assistance with toileting until he had fallen while in the restroom and was not able to get himself up off of the floor. Because he had gone to the restroom independently, there wasn’t a staff member available to assist him;