From the [Morris County, NJ] Daily Record:

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine has signed a law that allows students with disabilities to walk with their classmates at graduation, whether or not they receive a diploma.

The statute was inspired by Alicia Vitiello, a student with Down syndrome. Her family challenged a decades-old policy that barred students from participating in graduation until they completed their education.

Federal law allows students with disabilities to continue attending high school until they turn 21.

Officials in the Hanover Park Regional High School District initially denied Alicia’s request to walk at graduation, but relented. She participated in ceremonies in 2007 (above, with her mother, Janice).

This entry was posted on Monday, June 16th, 2008 at 6:25 pm and is filed under Down syndrome, advocacy, disabilities, families, graduation, law, politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.  Email This Post