From the Arizona Republic and the East Valley [AZ] Tribune:

A school board in suburban Phoenix, Arizona, has set aside an earlier decision barring a student with a disability from participating in high school graduation.

The Gilbert Public Schools board voted unanimously to let Kevyn Barton’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team decide whether he may walk with his Highland High class. Barton, who has an intellectual disability, wants to participate in the ceremony with friends he has known since kindergarten.

The district had earlier barred the 18-year-old student from participating in the commencement exercises because he won’t meet graduation requirements. Barton will continue in the district’s special education program until he is 22.

Kevyn’s dad, LRay Barton, said he is “happy” with the board’s decision. “That’s what we asked the board to do, and it looks like they will allow him to walk,” the elder Barton said.

A Facebook group called “Let Kevyn Walk!” has gathered 644 members, many of them students at Highland High.

Related post here.

See also: GPS to review case of special needs student — Arizona Republic

(Arizona Republic photo)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 at 11:30 am and is filed under advocacy, education, graduation, intellectual/developmental disabilities, special education. 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.