The Question Asked:
"My son has Cornelia de Lange syndrome and is non-verbal, developmentally delayed/intellectually disabled and just this year transitioned to high school. We had his first IEP meeting this week and afterwards visited the classroom. When we walked in it reminded me of a bad nursing home scene with the kids slumped in their wheelchairs or at tables with iPads and one para educator sitting there watching them. The other was changing a kid in the back out of sight. There are 7 kids, 2 paras, and a teacher. Theses kids all require diaper changes, feeding assistance etc since most are low functioning. My son requires assistance toileting and has to leave the room to go to a restroom down the hall. I cannot believe there is sufficient time remaining to teach with the amount of work to care for these kids. One para is very pregnant and the other is a substitute because a para recently quit. What is the law for student to teacher/para ratio for severely disabled kids in Virginia. I emailed the Principal my concerns but have not heard back. My son is the highest functioning kid in the class...the only one who can walk but still requires a lot of help"
