Success With Special Education in Simi Valley, California

An Interview with a Special Education Student Who Spent Her Educational Career in the Simi Valley Unified School District

All parents feel the burden of making the right choices about their children's education. For some parents, this means making the choice between public or private school. For others, this means making the choice about the right school. Some families even choose to relocate to put their children in a better school district. These decisions can be tough for any family, but it can be even more difficult for a parent whose child has a disability.

It has just been within the last few decades that public education in America has become truly aware of the impact of learning disabilities. Even within just the last ten years, huge advancements have been made in helping these students achieve success in their education. Because some states and some districts are further advanced than others, parents of special needs students sometimes have difficult choices to make.

Recently, I had a chance to speak with a local college student, Kristin Ward, a special education student who grew up in the Simi Valley Unified School District. California has historically been ahead of the trend in special education. Simi Valley also has a reputation for being one of the top school districts in the state. For Kristin, this equation meant success.

Kristin Ward has been part of a special education program throughout all of her school years. Born hearing impaired, Kristin was also identified to have a learning disability. This double shot of difficulties made Kristin's schooling somewhat challenging. Although she was identified by the school district as being a special education student, she was fortunate to remain in mainstream classes for the majority of her education.