SIMI VALLEY : Board Hearing Asked on Autistic Student

The mother of an autistic student at Royal High School is asking the Simi Valley school board to decide whether her son should speak at the school’s June 20 graduation ceremony.

Peggy Rose wants the board to override the decision of a student-run selection committee that chose two other graduation speakers in April.

Committee members, who have taken classes with Ryan and nominated him for several school honors, said they wanted to give other students a chance to stand out and that the speeches selected were more interesting than Ryan’s.

Rose hired a lawyer last week, after the student group stood by its decision. Attorney Donald M. Adams Jr. sent a letter to the board of the Simi Valley Unified School District on Tuesday asking for the hearing under the Federal Education of the Handicapped Act.

“All that Ryan seeks is the opportunity to fully participate in the graduation ceremonies that his hard work has achieved for him,� the letter states.

Adams said the hearing is a preliminary step to filing a federal lawsuit against the district forcing officials to allow Ryan to speak.

“It is hoped that a compromise is available, so this can be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. We aren’t threatening anyone,� Adams added.

Peggy Rose already has appealed to the board in person. Two weeks ago, she protested the student decision to exclude her son from the speeches, saying his speech about the plight of handicapped students deserved to be heard.

Board members said they would look into how all disabled children are treated by the district at their May 30 meeting, but Rose wants the board to vote on her son’s specific case.

Royal High School officials have said they are standing by the decision the students made.