I previously discussed the services provided to students by the public school system. In this discussion, I addressed the fact that some students receive special services from the faculty and staff of a school. Included in these services is a personal assistant for some students.
In most cases, people think of special services for students who are challenged academically. While those students do receive the help that they need. Other students can also receive special services.
There are several reasons why a student may have a personal assistant. By personal assistant, I mean a staff member that stays with the student all day. This staff member is assigned to the student and responsible for the student throughout the day.
Medical disabilities are a main reason why some students have personal assistants with them throughout the day. Some students are physically challenged and confined to a wheel chair. In some cases, these students have assistants to help them. Other students are unable to speak and communicate well with others. These students may require an assistant. In some cases, the disability may be an illness such as chronic asthma or seizures. These students may receive an assistant in order for the student’s safety.
Some students may have an assistant due to behavior issues. If the student cannot sit and function in the classroom with a general classroom teacher, the student may be assigned an assistant. The assistant sits beside the student and keeps him or her stay on task and under control in order not to disturb the class. The student may or may not be challenged academically or physically. The main challenge for this student is behaving in a classroom setting and not disturbing the other students.
It is not uncommon for a student to receive a personal assistant under certain circumstances. By law, the school system has to serve the students in the least restrictive environment possible. For some students the only way to function in a regular classroom is to have someone by their side at all times.