I was appalled to hear Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates’ recent remarks comparing Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez to a special education student who cannot be suspended.

This statement is deeply offensive and perpetuates damaging stereotypes about students with disabilities who are disproportionately suspended and excluded from school. Students with disabilities are legally entitled to, and rely on, individualized education programs (IEPs) to make progress in the classroom educationally and emotionally.

Every individual deserves respect, dignity and the opportunity to succeed. Comments such those made by Davis Gates undermine these values and reinforce harmful prejudices about students with disabilities.

For decades, students with disabilities have faced barriers to equal education, from physical accessibility challenges to stigmatizing attitudes. The passage of the special education law, including the mandate for IEPs, brought hard-fought legal protections and was a monumental step forward in ensuring that students with disabilities receive the tailored support they need to succeed in school and beyond.

Remarks that use students with disabilities as a punchline dismiss the critical importance of these legal rights and protections and their dramatic impact on a student’s ability to learn.

For 40 years, the organization I founded has worked to ensure the rights of people with disabilities are upheld from cradle to cane. We strive to ensure the laws that give students who receive special education services the extra support they need are upheld. After graduation, when those laws are no longer supporting youths, the Americans with Disabilities Act helps level the playing field by breaking down barriers to higher education, job training and, ultimately, career performance.

While these vital laws give protections to people with disabilities, students and employees must still meet certain criteria to benefit from them. It is not a “get out of jail free” card as Davis Gates implied.

Nor are these laws guaranteed to be followed. Equip for Equality attorneys have seen time and time again how students with IEPs are failed by schools and administrations that flagrantly disregard the laws. When our attorneys get involved and help students exercise their legal rights, we see them reengage and flourish once they are given the resources they need.

For example, our attorneys represented a teenage student with mental illness who was not receiving appropriate behavioral and social-emotional support in school despite her IEP stating she should have them. The school consistently disciplined her for behaviors that were clearly related to her disabilities rather than give her support that would stop the behaviors. Despite her mother’s repeated attempts to work with the school, her daughter continued to struggle, and the school issued punishments instead of support.

We stepped in to represent the student at legally required school meetings and ensured her school provided the support she needed instead of continuing to punish her. With this support in place, she was able to better regulate her behavior and get back on track. She graduated high school and enrolled in college to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. This is one of many students with whom we worked to ensure that they receive the services they need to finally succeed in school instead of being pushed. Contrary to Davis Gates’ remarks, these students are not given a free pass for their behavior — rather, they are given the supports they need to learn, engage and become productive members of their communities.

Davis Gates apologized for her remarks, but this incident is a stark reminder of the power of words, especially when spoken by those in leadership. As the head of the CTU, Davis Gates holds significant influence over educators and the community as she is the voice of public school teachers in Chicago. It is essential that leaders in her position set a standard for inclusion and respect of all students.

This incident is not just about one ill-considered comment. It highlights a broader need for increased awareness and sensitivity regarding disability rights and inclusion. We must ensure that all educators, administrators and community leaders understand the challenges faced by students with disabilities and the vital importance of creating supportive, inclusive environments for all learners.

At Equip for Equality, we believe in turning moments like this into opportunities for growth and dialogue. Let this be a call to action for all of us to do better by our students, particularly those who face additional challenges, and to uphold the dignity and humanity of every individual.

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Zena Naiditch is president and CEO of Equip for Equality.

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