Feature TaeReview Wednesday, May 8, 1991 _ Al6 All children are created equal under B.C. Ministry of Education order 13, passed in 1989, which declares that the appropriate place for a handicapped student is in a classroom with non- handicapped students. Called integration, the process takes mentally and physically disabled children out of inStitutions and special needs centers and puts them in public School classrooms— often without much warning for the classroom teacher. In School District 63 integration was @ major issue in the recent teacher strike and has sparked a human rights appeal against the district, initiated by parents who feel their child has been denied the integration promised by the Ministry of Education order. In this first part of a three-part series The Review reports on the successful integration of an early primary student at Sidney Elementary School and on the concerns of teachers attending a recent integration workshop. by Valorie Lennox The Review Stephanie reads, writes and enjoys birthday parties — just like - her classmates in early primary at Sidney Elementary school. But seven years ago, Sandra Phillips was told her baby would never grow beyond.a- mental age of five. Twenty years ago, a child like Stephanie would have been placed in an institution. Then Phillips went to the Pearkes Clinic child development centre for help. “I was told, never limit her. I thought, if I don’t limit her, I can have a dream for her and the dream just keeps on growing.” Sharers in the dream are Stepha- nie’s teacher Joy Paquin, aide Diana Inouye and Stephanie’s classmates. “When Stef read a book to the whole group, the kids had tears coming down their faces,” Paquin said. Sandra and husband Richard had waited five years for Stepha- nie. When their daughter’s disabil- ity was diagnosed, it was almost as if the child had died, Phillips said. “You go through all those stages — denial, grief, disbelief, anger and acceptance. Every parent has a dream of what their child will be. In a way, that dream dies.” With acceptance came deter- mination to achieve the best for Stephanie. When Stephanie was three, Phil- lips suddenly realized that in 23 years of teaching, she had never encountered a mentally disabled child in a standard classroom. “When I started applying it to Stephanie, I thought, I don’t want her in a segregated class.” She already knew her daughter imitated others’ actions and had limited speech. She feared a segregated class containing only handicapped chil- dren would amplify Stephanie’s disabilities. “A segregated class puts non- communicative children with non- communicative children. I was afraid she would pick up behavior that wasn’t appropriate.” Teacher Sylvia Kane, who shares the early primary teaching area with Paquin, agrees with Phil- lips. “Stephanie’s an imitator and I think going into a class with special needs children, she would only reach the limitations of that class.” With 75 youngsters aged six, seven and eight sharing the early primary area, Stephanie has plenty of role models demonstrating typi- cal childhood behavior. She has now learned so much that next year she is expected to require an aide only part-time, instead of the full-time aide required this year. Most of the time she does work similar to that done by the major- ity of the class, but modified by the aide to her level. Her skills are increasing, Paquin noted. Scribbles at the start of a workbook are becoming recogniz- able drawings and attempts at writing. “She is really able to carry on conversations with her peers.” Phillips said her daughter has progressed from three-word sen- tences at the start of Grade One to full seven and eight word sen- tences now. “She’s got tons of friends, she’s been to birthday parties. She’s had children over to play twice a week. She’s just an accepted child in her classroom, just like any other child,” Phillips said. She hopes her daughter will never be isolated by her disability but will grow up as an accepted. and, eventually, self-supporting member of the community. “She’s a prime example of the success of integration,’ Kane said. The success has two sides. In addition to Stephanie’s growing skills, there is the acceptance of Stephanie by the other children. “They really have a place for someone who has special needs,” Paquin said. At first the children tried to do too much for Stephanie; now they recognize how much Stephanie can do for herself. Teachers Kane and Paquin also have to remind themselves how much Stephanie can do for herself, especially when the seven-year- old uses typical childish wiles to try and bend the rules. “That's the gift we give her — to expect her to behave as all the- children behave,” Kane said. Friendships flow from integration Ashley Martin is an eight-year-old expert on integration — and friendship. “J think Stephanie should be in our class because she’s really nice,” Ashley says. Except sometimes...like when Stephanie sneaked out during a game of seven-Up-at Ashley’s birthday party last week and hid in the neighbor’s - yard. “She can be like a pain in the butt sometimes — sometimes she comes in late when the bell rings. Sometimes she gets stubbom.” “But I think she helps out pretty good.” Stephanie likes to play in the class house centre, likes to play outside and likes swings, Ashley said. But Ashley doesn’t like it when Stephanie is cast as the ‘baby’ when other children play with her in the house centre. “T don’t like it when she’s the baby because sometimes then she just gets a little bit too babyish with people,’ Ashley explained. “T think we’ll be friends for a long, long time. ae may even grow Up as f a NL PRA meg, bap Sa Bo Nee Saye AAR ee SAS eos When Stephanie read, classmates anes CLOSE CONSULTATION between early primary students deft fo right) seven-year-old Atroaiti Makris, Stephanie Phillips, 7, and Ashley Martin, 8, on the production of a poster for their school’s annual fun fair. : Church Services | 7820 Central Saanich Rd. 9:45 a.m.......... Sunday School 11:00 a.m.....Morning Worship 6:30 p.m....... Evening Worship MID WEEK BIBLE STUDIES Pastor Ernie Kratofil Assistant George Hodgson CHURCH 652-2723 Fala JARS E | Stee cee | | een CHURCH Sunday Worship & Sunday School 10345 Bowerbank, Sidney Sunday Services. ........... 11 a.m. &6 p.m. 10:00 a.m. at Keating Elem. School, 6843 Central Saanich Rd. - Rev. Stephen Swift Where Bible salvation is preached Invites you to be in service with us Call Pastor Gabor Czinger 655-7029 HOME 652-4837 or 652-2734 ~ AWarm Welcome Awaits You At ‘The Elk Lake Baptist Church Rev. LESLIE M. FUNK — = “= 5363 Patricia Bay Highway !ake Victoria, B.C. V8Y 1S9 652-0045 652-9635 Gall for free home Bible studies SAANICH PENINSULA PEACE LUTHERAN CHRISTADELPHIANS CHURCH Moose Hall 7925 E. Saanich Rd. ae ae ee ae a 1 i unda COOL 220... .secssccecepnreneee: 5 lb eens ey Worship Service Soe 10:30 a.m. 655-1061 656 anit ae ses. a773 sh mine : BETHEL. BAPTIST CHURCH 10:30 a.m. 2269 Mills Road iy Mornin gq. Suey aoe el ages).......... 9:45 a.m. the. Worship omy 2enigemeeesmies. Sean Pastor: Gerald W. Meller ~ 656-5012 652-4065 ST. ELIZABETH’S Roman Catholic Church 10030 Third St., Sidney Attend Church _ CHURCH Greenglade Elementary School Sidney. 656-9959 Nursery, Sunday School 652-1909 a ; : SUNDAY Saturday Mass ..............0.. 5:00 p.m. jj’ Th IS Week Va Famil é ‘ 200 OM. ......02..000 y Worship Sunday Mass.................- 10:30 a.m. ; & Childrens Church] CE Re ON: SAANICHTON BIBLE FELLOWSHIP Shady Creek Brentwood ‘ 2159 Mt. Newton Cross Rd. : UNITED CHU RCH Roman Catholic Ghurch Communion Service .................. 9:30 a.m. 7726 W. Saanich Road Family Service ........:...c:..2+s+s+-+ 11:00 a.m. SHADY GREEK UNITED CHURCH 7180 E. Saanich Rd. 9:30 a.m..Family Worship Service & Sunday School BRENTWOOD BAY UNITED CHURCH 7162 W. Saanich Rd. 11:00 a.m........ramily Worship Service & Sunday School Rev. Terry Finch 652-2713 office PLEASE JOIN US IN WORSHIPPING THE LORD! € (Children’s Church) Evening Praise 6:30. p.m. : NEW LIFE FELLOWSHIP A FOURSQUARE GOSPEL CHURCH 9925 5th St., Sidney 656-3544 655-3554 PASTORS LES & LINDA WARRINER 652-1909 3 Youth Groups, Bible Studies Sunday Mass ...............--- 8:30 a.m. Pastor: Rick Stinton Sunday Mass ..- 12:30 p.m. 652-6311 56-4730 BRENTWOOD ANGLICAN CHAPEL PENINSULA PENTECOSTAL 792Sea Drive, Brentwood Bay ‘Telephone: 652-3860 ASSE 10:30 a.m. EVERY SUNDAY 5506 SSEMBEY Full Nursery, Christian Education & 9:30 a.m Sunday School Hour Youth Ministries available. OFAN a eee NA : + 3 WE EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO EVERYONE oe a.M........Morning Worship Service See 5 SSOP Un Sesecsesersrrccreesreet Evening Service Rector: The Rev. Alistair P. Petrie (652-5025) PASTOR DAVID A. McALISTER Youth Pastor: Capt. Stephen Pessah (652-7779) 479-6237 Church i 652-9589 Res. Morning Worship ST. MARY’S 10:30 a.m. ANGLICAN CHURCH WELCOME TO ST. JOHN’S UNITED CHURCH 40990 W. Saanich Rd. Deep Cove 9:30 a.m. ..Family Worship Service Sunday School & Nursery SAANICHTON 1973 Cultra Avenue Sunday, May 12th 8:15 a.m. ......Holy Communion 10:00 a.m. ........ Morning Prayer = & Sunday School Wed., 10:00 a.m........Eucharist Canon Murray Ames, Recior Church Office 652-1611 Anglican - Espiscopal Book of Common Prayer oe ST. PAULS ley UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA 2410 Malaview™ Family Worship & Sunday School....10:00 a.m. REV. JIM ALLAN 656-3213 ' Home 655-4393 SAANICH PENINSULA Meeting at 10:00 a.m. 9296 E. Saanich Rd. For Worship and Sunday School COME JOIN OUR GROWING FELLOWSHIP REV. PETER COUTTS. 655-3548 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH REV. HORI PRATT 655-3043 CHURCH Sluggett Memorial FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH 7008 W. Saanich Rd. 9:90 LIT .-...-2ceceseneses Family Bible Hour 10:50 a.m... Morning Worship 6:30 P.I..........ce--e Evening Fellowship Pastor: DONALD W. REED 652-3313 sare 652-6168 CF Si STEPHEN’S ANGLICAN CHURCH Mt. Newton X & St. Stephen’s Rd. SAANICHTON/BRENTWOOD 8230 LM. .....se-scvesesenceseses Holy Eucharist 10:00.a.m. .............-s.:..--amily Eucharist Rev. Canon RichardSpencer 652-4311 ee SIDNEY PENTECOSTAL ASSEMBLY 410364 McDonald Park Ra. Sidney B.C. V8L3Z9 Pastor: David Hauser. 9:45 A.IM....sccssscsarsesesnree cer ..5Unday School 11:00 a.m... ...Morning Worship 6:00 P.I....-.s.scercseeeneoeren Evening Service For mid-week services call_656-3712 { a HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH W. Saanich and Mills Rd. Sunday Services 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday School 10 a.m: ANGLICAN CHURCH 9686-3rd Street, Sidney WORSHIP AT ST. ANDREW’S 8 a.m., 9a.m. & 11.a.m. Services ]- =e (Church Schoo: & Nursery 9 a.m.) THE REV. D.L. MALINS - 656-3223 REV. TREVORFISHER 656-5322 ss ¥ ee