Children with disabilities had never attended school in home country
By Mark Hebert
May 9, 2023 - A brother and sister with cerebral palsy were sharing an old wheelchair and had never received any formal schooling when they arrived in Louisville in January. Thier parents left Iraq because the two youngest children weren't getting an education, health care or therapy they needed in their home country. But now 10-year-old Raman and 19-year-old Nian are flourishing because of the helping hand they've received from Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) staff.
"We are so happy we have a big support like JCPS in our life," said the children's mother, Bayan Nabi.
Physical therapist Laura Duncan pieced together parts of wheelchairs to give each of the children their own. They had been sharing a single wheelchair, making it difficult for the family to go anywhere. Raman, who attends Bates Elementary School and Nian, who attends Phoenix School of Discovery, also have limited speech skills. So JCPS mounted adaptive communication devices on their wheelchairs. Staff have also helped arrange therapy and medical appointments while Raman and Nian's teachers rave about their intelligence and interaction with classmates. Nabi can't hide her excitement.
"They are so happy," she said. "They love their teachers so we are so grateful."