Feature

“Parents challenge district to integrate daughter

by Valorie Lennox
The Review

Kimberley Deptford is a child
without a classroom.
Now 12, she was removed from

* an educable mentally handicapped

(EMB) class at Saanichton Ele-
mentary last September by her
parents, Rick and Lauraine
Deptford, on the advice of a doctor
who said the class was putting
undue stress on their daughter.
Rejecting the school district
suggestion of a trainable mentally
handicapped (TMH) class for
Kimberley, the Deptfords asked
the district to place their daughter
full-time imto a typical class at
Saanichton Elementary.

‘Kimberley Is learning
fo print, learning fo
read. She is
educable. She has
always passed the
limitations anyone
has ever put on her’

No agreement was reached and
last December the Deptfords filed
a complaint with Human Rights.
Their daughter is still out of
school, although a second daugh-
ter, 10-year-old Susan, is attending
Saanichton Elementary.

The segregated class and partial
integration offered by the school
district is not enough, Lauraine
Deptford said.

“J want her in a class with her
age peers and with an amended
curriculum — to belong to that
group, whatever that group is,”
Lauraine Deptford said.

“I want for Kimberley what
Susan has — the nghts that Susan
has.”

For the Deptfords, the ideal
solution would be Kimberley’s
registration in a typical Grade 4
class at Saanichton Elementary,
followed by Grade 5 at the school
the following year.

At Saanichton last year, Kimber-
ley spent some time as part of a
typical Grade 2 class.

Called socialization, the time
spent outside of the EMH class
was the highlight of Kimberley’s
school day, Lauraine said.

DOLLARS

Continued from Page A20
within the framework we have and
with the limitations we have to
work under.

“We only have certain programs
that we can afford to offer.”

As recently as three years ago,

4@ ‘he majority of special needs chil-

dren were in segregated classes,
Stefaniak said.

Older students who operate at
the mental and emotional level of
primary youngsters have been suc-
cessfully integrated into secondary
school with their age peers, but
only when the additional support
has been available, Stefaniak
noted.

“We can’t do it ovemnight.”

The

Review.
Hes Moved -

our new address is
97 26 = ist Street
next to Carrington Wyatt

“She lived for integration.” But
the few hours spent in the class is
not enough for Kimberley to
become part of the class. “She was
there for visitation rights.”

At first the Deptfords were
pleased with the education Kim-
berley received at Saanichton,
even buying their home im the area
to secure their daughter’s place at
the school.

But last spring Kimberley began
having behavior problems in the
EMH class at Saanichton. Offered
a transfer to the TMH class at
Keating Elementary, the Deptfords
refused.

“We really couldn’t accept
Keating, we felt we were taking a
step backward.

“Because she is borderline
between the two levels, we thought
she could learn more by being in
the higher level.”

Tests have since confirmed that
Kimberley learns best by imitating
— so the Deptfords want her to
have the best models possible.

“Tt is important that Kimberley
be with a higher functioning
group,” Lauraine said.

“Kimberley is learning to print,
learning to read. She is educable.
She has always passed the limita-
tions anyone has ever put on her.”

Kimberley was two years old
before the Deptfords were finally
advised that their ~“developmen-
tally-delayed” daughter was men-
tally handicapped.

She was five before the cause
was identified as Rubinstein-Taybi
Syndrome, an extremely rare con-
dition. In one way, the diagnosis
was a relief.

“You’re screaming for know-
ledge,” Rick Deptford said. “You
want to know where she is at so
you can do everything possible for
your child.”

The Deptfords had already done
as much as possible for Kimberley.
In Chilliwack, they joined with
four other parents to create the
community's first integrated pre-

SHARING A SHELTIE, sisters Kimberley and Susan Deptford
play with Scooter at the family’s Saanichton home. Parents
Rick and Lauraine Deptford have initiated a human rights
appeal to have their daughter Kimberley fully integrated
into a typical class at Saanichton Elementary.

Pub at
Port Sidney

Open 7 D

656-5643

For GOOD FOOD at
REASONABLE PRICES and .
WARM ATMOSPHERE

s a Week for Lunch and Dinner -

TheReview

school when the existing pre-
schools refused to admit their
daughter.

When they started a business,
they picked a location based on
the reputation of the local school
system. The Saanich School Dis-
trict was highly recommended.

Lauraine said.
Now she is not sure they made

the right choice. “In Victoria, the
parent makes a choice. We could
move down the highway a few
miles and have full integration.”
But the Deptfords do not want to
leave their home and want their
daughters to go to school with
their neighborhood frends.
Kimberley is part of the com-
munity, Lauraine says. She goes to
birthday parties, plays with local
youngsters and has joined in local

RESIDENTIAL DESIGN, DRAFTING =

Ss Custom Homes

S Renovations

= Multl-residental Developments
= Contract Management

S Building Consultation

Deum sul,
Desiqn

NORM ERIESEN
STUDIO B — 2412 BEACON AVE.

656-1708

Wednesday, May 15,1991 — A21

sports groups.

“She has the right to go to
Saanichton. Aljl her friends go to
Saanichton.”

Pending the outcome of the
Deptfords’ Human Rights com-
plaint, Kimberley is not going to
Saanichton or to any other school.
The Deptfords do not expect a
ruling until this summer — and
any ruling may be appealed.

From her family, Kimberley

learns life skills and socialization

— but she is receiving no aca-
demic instructions.

“Tf any child loses a year of
school, they lose,” Lauraine said.
“Kimberley has the potential to be
a self-supporting, tax-paying
member of society and the more
time she misses school, the more
dependent she will be.”

SIDNEY, B.C. VBL 1x4

a U-Brew

207-2031 een

(across from Slegg Lumber) 655-71 21

flushing

appliances.

water

TOWN OF SIDNEY

WATER MAIN
FLUSHING PROGRAM

The Town of Sidney will carry out main flushing in
the area SOUTH of Beacon Avenue between May
14th and June 19th, 1991. Water supply will be off
between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in areas where
is taking place and discolour-
ation of water may occur.

Residents are advised to run cold water taps to
clear their system of any discolouration prior to
using washing machines or other water consuming

The Town of Sidney will not accept any responsibili-
ty for damage resulting from the use of discoloured

G.A. Bryson, Superintendent
Water Utility
Town of Sidney