In 2011, there were three centralized locations for disabled student parent activities: the largest center for
parent activities was Oakman Orthopedic, for children with differing abilities; Charles R. Drew Transition
Center, for disabled young adults 18-26; and the Detroit Day Center for the Deaf. Through volunteer
activities at the schools, parents came together for the kids, but were also very active in terms of advocating
for the special needs of their children.
Disabled students have conditions which can vary in severity even within the same diagnosis. A parent
cannot assume that others understand their student’s needs. For this reason, they naturally develop as
advocates for their children.
This may appear political when, administrators or politicians make decisions which will violate the IEP and
parents find themselves explaining to political authorities their children’s needs in the thick of those
decisions.
Sins of State Management
If there is such a thing as the concept of ‘Kumbaya’, Oakman was it. General ed and disabled students went
to school together and learned diversity, tolerance and acceptance. Most people in the city will say that
Oakman was a school where people of all ages felt loved. Neighbors participated too because they felt a
spirit of “hope” and” family”. The Detroit Pistons gave them a media center.Whatever anyone may be able
to say about any other part of Detroit, Oakman was to Detroit, something of a paradise.
For instance, in some places, going to school with disabled children, “getting on the short bus” is an insult.
However, no one minded attended Oakman. It was widely accepted that everyone was happy. In fact,
children could not wait to get to school.
Fig 5. Shows the clean well manicured streets of Oakman, children playing down the street in 2013.
49