BOTHELL, Wash. — Parents and students on Friday rallied outside the Northshore School District’s administration building, demanding in-person special education classes.
The rally was organized by the parents of 7-year-old Logan Shepard, a special needs second-grader, who is not getting the support he needs to excel in his current remote learning plan, his parents said. They also said the lack of in-person special education classes has impacted his ability to learn.
>> ‘Forgotten’: Bothell family says remote learning plan failing special needs child
“We received the exact same communication for him as we received our typical child,” said Patrick Shepard, whose son Logan is enrolled at Frank Love Elementary School. “There was no additional support lent to him or us, no discussion about how can we set us and him up for success in remote learning, nothing at all.”
Since KIRO 7 first introduced the Shepard family on Wednesday, they say they have received an outpouring of support and they organized the March for Equality for Special Education.
“We will continue to fight. We will not stop until Logan and other kids like Logan are back in school getting the services they deserve,” said Shepard.
The father said Logan, who cannot talk or walk, has also not received therapy he’s entitled to as a special needs student. This therapy helped his son excel in school last year, he added.
“The therapy Logan has received at school has been paramount and just very important to his ability to learn how to communicate,” Shepard said. “We’ve seen that slowdown and him not be able to communicate as much. It’s terrible to watch.”
The district recently committed to covering two of the four therapy sessions Logan needs. But his parents said it was not enough.
Officials with Northshore School District released a statement, saying in part it “is working to support the best possible and safest educational experience for each of our students… And staff remains dedicated to giving their very best during this pandemic.”
Cox Media Group
