“Why We Educate: Equity In Education For All” was the keynote title for day 3 of the CAST UDL Symposium. Keith Jones was the speaker and discussed the history of education for students with disabilities. Jones spoke about growing up and learning in special schools, and coming home to a mother who was an educator. He spoke about the differences between being educated in an environment with students with disabilities and what his friends would encounter. Jones moved to Boston and learned about the different expectations for students with different abilities. Jones described being a teenager and not being challenged… He mentioned that “our humanity has been reduced to our diagnosis” and the difficulties in high school. Jones shared that his mother always expected him to graduate high school and college and leave the family home with his wheelchair. Jones did very well on the SAT yet had difficulties with spelling, leading to teachers wanting him to return to high school. He was one of three that graduated high school from his class of thirty-five! Jones described the challenges and changes for students with disabilities in the classroom. Jones emphasized that we are all human and have different access needs. “How best can I teach all students?” was a phrase that Jones used. Jones explained that when you stand up in front of a class, you are the authority, and you also have the opportunity to be the facilitator. Jones called for “advancing youth to be the best version(s) of what they want to be.” Jones ended by saying that it is worth being educated and showing up in the student’s service.
