A dehumanizing decision

The August 20, 2025, headline was, “Florida will phase out certificates of completion for students with disabilities.” The Board of Education touts that “Florida law provides multiple pathways to receive a standard diploma, ensuring students earn meaningful credentials upon completing high school.” They are proud of the fact they offer “a technical education graduation pathway for students to receive additional career preparation prior to graduation.”

The choices for students become either an academic or technical education pathway for graduation. You must fit one of these pathways or you can work toward a certificate of completion, something offered to students with disabilities. But that option is being phased out in the 25-26 school year.

I don’t know what world you live in, but the “disabled” people I have known have incredible gifts to offer the world and lots of potential that may not be realized. Often, they just need a chance.

Amy Van Bergen runs the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida and is the mother of a son with disabilities. She says her son, “wouldn’t have been able to get the two jobs he works at in a law office without his certificate.” She is worried for students like him.

Americans have trouble accepting the differences we all have - learning differences, physical disabilities, color of skin, origin of birth, sexuality. If you don’t meet the established “norm”, you are shoved out and mocked, denied of rights and dignity. Those in power make the rules. They “other” and shame those who are different. Personhood and the assessment of who is in and who is out, is limited to the human capacity to see, love, include, encourage. No one born is inherently better than any other person. We are equal in the eyes of God.

In 2019, there was a movie about a young down syndrome boy who escapes the institution he is living in to search for a wrestler he has seen on television. Zak has dreams of being a wrestler himself. The movie is Peanut Butter Falcon. Zak hooks up with two bandits who are running from the law. An epic journey begins as they work their way to the wrestling camp in Ayden, NC.

The bonds that grow among these three are a testament to mutual need, friendship, and valuation of all three searchers. What they find is a wholeness that blesses the little trio and brings them a new chance at life.

Zak had dreams. All of the Down Syndrome people I know have dreams. And they have a joy and delight in life that few of us have. A lot of Down Syndrome people do not have advocates and champions who see their value in the world. Those who do, thrive.

The Special Olympics are a good example of the advocacy from which Down Syndrome people benefit. Eunice Kennedy Shriver, in recalling the awful and dehumanizing treatment of her sister, Rosemary, founded Special Olympics to “positively change attitudes toward mentally handicapped children.”

If you have ever sat and cheered someone at the Special Olympics, you see the joy of victory and agony of defeat. You see the human worth that is affirmed in every young person there.

Down Syndrome young people bring hope and drive into what they do. They work in places like Esteem Coffee in Cary and Ballentine’s Cafeteria, until it closed. NC State has developed a college curriculum for Down Syndrome young people. The students will end up with a certificate from a major university that, coupled with their fearlessness, will carry them far into the workforce and greater self-sufficiency.

Parents want the best for their children. To have a Board of Education cancel a service that builds a child up is both hurtful and dehumanizing. How will parents explain to young people that a future in school is denied to them? 

The Florida policy of phasing out certification for Down Syndrome children is heartless. Sadly, there is a lot of heartlessness in America today.

These children are our children. We have responsibility to create environments where all children can thrive. It’s wrong to deny any child the joy of being in a classroom, hearing stories and music, sharing playground time and lunch periods.

There are all kinds of ways we deny rights to differently abled people. Doors shut in faces do not make for a healthy community. If you have ever had a door shut in your face, you know the hurt that comes with it. All children need a chance to live their full potential. The world is a better place when we live inclusion and welcome, affirmation and celebration.

We all need a little Peanut Butter Falcon mojo in our attitudes. 

Lib Campbell is a retired Methodist pastor, retreat leader, columnist and host of the blogsite www.avirtualchurch.com. She can be contacted at libcam05@gmail.com