In The Politics of Autism, I write about special education and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Portables make up half of all classrooms at Fresno Unified elementary schools, and one-third of classrooms district-wide, according to the facilities master plan.
They are a fixture of special education at the district according to Greyson’s father, Michael Kelly.
“It’s always the portable that’s farthest away from everything else,” he said.
Chrissy Kelly said the physical distance this creates between her son, who has autism, and general education students reinforces the false notion that kids with special needs should be kept separate.
“Having special needs is already an isolating condition, and having autism makes socializing difficult for these students,” she said to the board in January 2017. “These children do not need physical segregation added to their struggle."
The six portables at Starr are home to the Autism Special Day Classes, a motor room for students with sensory needs and a music room. They have been used this way since the 2010-11 school year, according to Fresno Unified spokeswoman Jessica Baird.
