Copyright Buffalo Buffalo News
"My self-contained classroom and over 100 others are now facing something that, with 30 years of experience, I will deem as impossible," said Christine Pullen, who teaches at Discovery School. Eliminated positions and criticism shared by a Buffalo School Board member prompted Buffalo Schools' counselors, social workers and psychologists to describe their immense responsibilities and low staffing levels, especially in larger elementary school buildings. Victory Education – an arm of OLV Human Services – represents a new organization of schools that enroll almost entirely students with disabilities, many of whom fall within the emotional disturbance classification. Canisus, as well as the University at Buffalo, are among local higher education institutions to offer residencies to future educators. These programs have become an important and impactful part of training potential teachers and typically are a pathway into permanent employment but are being threatened by cuts in federal funds by the Trump administration. The mother of a 5-year-old nonverbal student with autism in Buffalo Schools seeks answers after her daughter suffered bruises and emotional and behavioral changes from an alleged incident with a substitute teacher. The early intervention field, which treats young children with disabilities and developmental delays, has been beaten down. What will it take to raise it up? Sensory processing troubles among Buffalo's youngest learners have soared. Reactions to loud sounds, bright lights, unusual textures, distracting smells and breaks in routine can interfere with the development of basic life skills, hamper learning and elicit emotional responses that disrupt elementary classrooms and at times jeopardize safety. Through residencies at Canisius University and SUNY Buffalo State University, eight current Buffalo Schools teacher assistants and substitutes in less than two years can earn special education certification, a master's degree and then receive an opportunity to teach in the city school district. A significant trend has emerged in Western New York: the number of children under 5 years old referred for special education evaluation has increased substantially. Traditional resources to help those children with disabilities, however, have not kept pace. With the need for special education services rising – and data showing early intervention is immensely helpful for preschool students with disabilities – Buffalo Public Schools preschool offerings for students with disabilities have soared.
