On Thursday, June 22, 12-year-old Sophia Burrell will be going to Cultus Lake with her Grade 6 classmates from West 91原创 Elementary to play at the water park.
It almost didn鈥檛 happen for the special needs student from 91原创鈥檚 Walnut Grove neighbourhood, who has autism, albinism, impaired vision, and epilepsy.
Just a few days before the long-planned trip was about to happen, Sophia鈥檚 mother, Leah, said she was informed Sophia couldn鈥檛 go, and told it was a 鈥淲orkSafe issue,鈥� having to do with workplace safety regulations.
Both parents, who will be working that day and could not accompany Sophia, had offered to pay their respite worker to go with her, but the offer was turned down.
Sophia, who loves swimming and water parks, was 鈥渟hattered, devastated鈥� by the news, Leah recalled.
鈥淪he鈥檚 obsessed with water slides,鈥� Leah explained.
鈥淪he鈥檚 a great swimmer.鈥�
The decision was changed after Leah went public about Sophia鈥檚 exclusion, and the issue was taken up online by Tamara Taggart, a former television journalist and activist for children with disabilities.
鈥淚magine if Sophia was your child,鈥� Taggart posted, calling the decision to exclude 鈥渃ruel.鈥�.
鈥淚magine if you were Sophia. We live in a society where we talk about inclusion but we accept exclusion.鈥�
Lots of supportive messages for Sophia, I asked the dad who sent me this note if I could share. 鈽猴笍
鈥� Tamara Taggart (@tamarataggart)
Both of his daughters were Sophia鈥檚 鈥渂ig buddy鈥� over the years + both are furious. Dad says we must all be united in stopping discrimination + bullying.
Leah credits the resulting publicity and pressure with changing the decision, adding the district has yet to explain or apologize.
鈥淭hey can鈥檛 take back the hurt they caused,鈥� Leah commented.
It was actually the second time something like this has happened to her daughter, Leah told the 91原创 Advance Times.
Sophia would have been left out of a previous trip to Playland at the PNE earlier in the month , if her parents hadn鈥檛 objected.
Sophia did get to go, and from all accounts, the trip went well, Leah told the 91原创 Advance Times.
After that, the mom said, 鈥淚 was assured she would be going on all trips in the future.鈥�
In both instances, Leah noted the trip had been planned well in advance, but the decision to exclude Sophia came just a few days before the kids would have gone.
鈥淚t could have been cleared up months ago,鈥� Leah maintained.
Leah said the district still hasn鈥檛 explained its decision, other than to continue to say it was a 鈥淲orkSafe鈥� matter.
Joanne Abshire, Communications Manager for the 91原创 School District, released a statement saying the district was 鈥渃ommitted to ensuring all students have equitable access to learning opportunities, including field trips.鈥�
It said the district and school 鈥渉ave developed a plan with accommodations and additional staff provided to ensure all students can attend and have their needs met.鈥�
鈥淎ll students in grade 6 and grade 7 at West 91原创 Elementary will be able to attend this field trip on Thursday. The District has communicated this information to the family. The district has communicated this plan with a representative from the venue.鈥�
READ ALSO: Celebrate the abilities of people with disabilities, says founder of 91原创 advocacy group
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Have a story tip? Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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