Child of Disable Parent seeks help!
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/diabled-father-asking-school-district-help-getting/nnFLd/
My name is Joshua Rolland Callahan, Sr, a courageous, a loving , and a former Atlanta Public Schools Special Needs Educator born and raised in Georgia. Throughout my life I have been faced with many difficult obstacles due to the fact that I have been "labeled" as disabled since the ripe age of 12 years old. However I have not allowed that "label" to hinder me yet there are days when my physical limitations place me at a disadvantage. I graduated from college in 4 years from Morehouse College all while living with a tumor in my thoracic region of my spinal cord which at the time was deemed inoperable. As you can imagine there were days it questioned "Why Me?" I finally learned in 2002 that what I was living with was caused and arteriovenous malformation or AVM for short so for 35 years I lived with this AVM not knowing at any moment I could have died from an aneurysm. Thankfully that never occurred but once when I was 12 that is how the AVM was discovered. I lived with this spinal AVM for a grand total of 35 years until October 10th through the 12th of 2012. Despite my burning desire to keep moving forward I have had to shut it down and live off SSI because I can no longer continue to teach thus lies the problem and the main reason for this complaint. At the end of last school year I reached out to Atlanta Public Schools about seeking assistants in transporting my son to and from school for this school year 2015-2016. I wrote and spoke with numerous people whom were willing to help rectify this problem. I even received emails from Dr. Carstarphen herself insuring me that I wouldn't have to worry that transportation would be worked out before the school year for my 8 year old son, Jeremiah Callahan, whom attends Thomasville height's Elementary. I informed the school system on several that I could no longer travel up and down the hill with my son due to the fact that I am still in what is considered recovery from a very invasive surgery which could still leave me paralyzed. I would with a gage and I use various walking aids to assist with my balance. All summer before school began I was lead to believe that transportation would be provided and I would have nothing to worry about because I am disabled and they meaning Atlanta Publics Schools were concerned for my child safety as well as my own. However, that hasn't happen instead the opposite I was told that I was "like" every other parent at Thomasville Elementary by the Social Worker which I formed him when he came to visit my home on August the 2nd without calling or notification. I was shocked and taken aback that someone from the school district would make such a statement on behalf of the Administration of Thomasville. I informed the Superintended office of this statement and matter and received the same response yet prior emails and telephone conversation would suggest otherwise. Thomasville is not Handicap accessible meaning should a fire or any type of emergency was to occur I would be unable to quickly evacuate the building quickly and safely. I have spoken with the head of the Atlanta School Board about this matter Mr. Courtney English, whom assured me that a resolution would occur that has been well over 3 weeks. I have even been on television last month on WSBTV about this matter yet still no movement from the district except to say that there are enough buses for each and every student and my response well send a bus. I have been hospitalized over walking up and down the hill which has forced me to depend on others to take my son to school and to make sure he gets home safely because I am unable to tackle this hill. Since being released from the hospital I have once again made a plea to APS to assist yet all I receives are deceptions and constant discrimination for being disabled. I have even had one Board member call and say they would have helped but since I went to the media "no one" wants to touch this matter. My response to this fail attempt to bully me into being quite was since I am speaking out about broken promises my child suffers and I put my health at risk. Because "I made the system look bad", no the system left my child behind and was not putting the children first or adhering to the American disability Act by saying I was "like" all the other parents and failing to accommodate a disable parent with a child. This year alone my son has experienced bullying as a result of me speaking out against the system. As well as going an entire day without running water and sitting in filth because the school had no water. Yet they failed to contact the parents about this matter until after the school day with a letter. Of which my son informed me that bathroom smell made him sick to his stomach and they didn't have any water bottles as was stated in the letter sent home. I am asking once again that something be done because I would like my voice heard on this matter and also have the ability to make sure my son gets to and from school safely since the only concern of the school system is about cheating and ignoring the pleas of parent in need.
My name is Joshua Rolland Callahan, Sr, a courageous, a loving , and a former Atlanta Public Schools Special Needs Educator born and raised in Georgia. Throughout my life I have been faced with many difficult obstacles due to the fact that I have been "labeled" as disabled since the ripe age of 12 years old. However I have not allowed that "label" to hinder me yet there are days when my physical limitations place me at a disadvantage. I graduated from college in 4 years from Morehouse College all while living with a tumor in my thoracic region of my spinal cord which at the time was deemed inoperable. As you can imagine there were days it questioned "Why Me?" I finally learned in 2002 that what I was living with was caused and arteriovenous malformation or AVM for short so for 35 years I lived with this AVM not knowing at any moment I could have died from an aneurysm. Thankfully that never occurred but once when I was 12 that is how the AVM was discovered. I lived with this spinal AVM for a grand total of 35 years until October 10th through the 12th of 2012. Despite my burning desire to keep moving forward I have had to shut it down and live off SSI because I can no longer continue to teach thus lies the problem and the main reason for this complaint. At the end of last school year I reached out to Atlanta Public Schools about seeking assistants in transporting my son to and from school for this school year 2015-2016. I wrote and spoke with numerous people whom were willing to help rectify this problem. I even received emails from Dr. Carstarphen herself insuring me that I wouldn't have to worry that transportation would be worked out before the school year for my 8 year old son, Jeremiah Callahan, whom attends Thomasville height's Elementary. I informed the school system on several that I could no longer travel up and down the hill with my son due to the fact that I am still in what is considered recovery from a very invasive surgery which could still leave me paralyzed. I would with a gage and I use various walking aids to assist with my balance. All summer before school began I was lead to believe that transportation would be provided and I would have nothing to worry about because I am disabled and they meaning Atlanta Publics Schools were concerned for my child safety as well as my own. However, that hasn't happen instead the opposite I was told that I was "like" every other parent at Thomasville Elementary by the Social Worker which I formed him when he came to visit my home on August the 2nd without calling or notification. I was shocked and taken aback that someone from the school district would make such a statement on behalf of the Administration of Thomasville. I informed the Superintended office of this statement and matter and received the same response yet prior emails and telephone conversation would suggest otherwise. Thomasville is not Handicap accessible meaning should a fire or any type of emergency was to occur I would be unable to quickly evacuate the building quickly and safely. I have spoken with the head of the Atlanta School Board about this matter Mr. Courtney English, whom assured me that a resolution would occur that has been well over 3 weeks. I have even been on television last month on WSBTV about this matter yet still no movement from the district except to say that there are enough buses for each and every student and my response well send a bus. I have been hospitalized over walking up and down the hill which has forced me to depend on others to take my son to school and to make sure he gets home safely because I am unable to tackle this hill. Since being released from the hospital I have once again made a plea to APS to assist yet all I receives are deceptions and constant discrimination for being disabled. I have even had one Board member call and say they would have helped but since I went to the media "no one" wants to touch this matter. My response to this fail attempt to bully me into being quite was since I am speaking out about broken promises my child suffers and I put my health at risk. Because "I made the system look bad", no the system left my child behind and was not putting the children first or adhering to the American disability Act by saying I was "like" all the other parents and failing to accommodate a disable parent with a child. This year alone my son has experienced bullying as a result of me speaking out against the system. As well as going an entire day without running water and sitting in filth because the school had no water. Yet they failed to contact the parents about this matter until after the school day with a letter. Of which my son informed me that bathroom smell made him sick to his stomach and they didn't have any water bottles as was stated in the letter sent home. I am asking once again that something be done because I would like my voice heard on this matter and also have the ability to make sure my son gets to and from school safely since the only concern of the school system is about cheating and ignoring the pleas of parent in need.