They'll include him in the community, offer him a job, invite him to a football game on Friday nights. The staff at Winfield Middle, particularly the principal, Penny Fisher, has been more willing to look at ways to solve problems and work toward ways of Andrew being included than other places we've been. Wright's school schedule reflects the combined efforts of school officials and his mother. Most of his time is spent in a special education class, however every week he attends West Virginia history and science classes with his eighth-grade peers. Reggie's theory as to why more parents of special needs children don't push for their kids to be mainstreamed whenever possible revolves around a hurdle that appears manageable.
Federal law says kids have a right to an appropriate education.
And so what's right for Andrew might not be right for other kids. They might not be able to or might not want to do what Andrew does. But there are other ways that kids can be involved at school. Wright has clearly found his niche at Winfield Middle. During halftime at last week's game against Andrew Jackson, James Stover , father of General's starter Josh Stover , presented Wright with a football helmet signed by the entire team.