Claim: Photograph shows a student with cerebral palsy who was left alone apart from the rest of the choir during a school performance in which he was supposed to take part.
Example: [Collected via Facebook, March 2012]
I don't normally vent on here but I have to say something about how Alex was treated at his chorus concert tonight. First of all for those of you that don't know Alex has Cerebral Palsy and is in a wheel chair. I try to make sure that he is included in activities at school like chorus, and he love's it and gets so excited when he gets to go to special events. Tonight we go to a special event including several other schools where the kids all sing with their class's. So first we get there and their is no access for him to sit with his class mates because it is in the old gym and their is no wheel chair access. Then they call his school up to sing so Alex wheels his self up to the portable risers and waits on the side for
Origins: This item from the mother of a sixth grade student with cerebral palsy who was left alone apart from the rest of the choir during a school performance in which he was supposed to take part began circulation on the Internet in March 2012. It stems from a real incident that took place on
It shows choir members from several six grade schools performing at South Cobb High School, while wheelchair bound Alex Pollard, also a chorus member, was kept way off to the side. Alex's mother, Arla Jan Wilson, said she was just sure someone would roll him up to the group before the music started, but everyone seemed to completely ignore him. "To see the look on his face, it broke my heart. It was totally unacceptable. That should never happen to my child, or any other disabled student out there," said Wilson. Wilson said her 12-year-old son, who is in a wheelchair because of Cerebral Palsy, was so excited to join the chorus after seeing the hit show "Glee". The choir director, Lars Grevstad, is actually Alex's chorus teacher at Cooper Middle School. Wilson said she chose to send Alex to that school because it has accommodations and training for special needs students. No one from the Cobb County School District would go on camera, but released a statement saying: It was a regrettable oversight that the student with special needs was not positioned with the rest of his schoolmates during the choral performance. The student has been a member of the chorus for the entire school year and there have been no prior issues. The choral director has cited several reasons why this occurred but accepts responsibility. The matter will be investigated and, if necessary, appropriate personnel action will be taken. That action could include a letter of reprimand and/or sensitivity training. Yet, when Duffie Dixon spoke to the district earlier in the day it acknowledged it had talked to the choir director, Lars Grevstad. According to spokesperson Jay Dillon, among the reasons Grevstad gave was that a student helper usually rolls Alex up to the choir. That student helper was apparently absent. Dillon said Grevstad also unfortunately never saw Alex off to the side. "I find that hard to believe," countered Wilson, "since the director came and welcomed Alex personally before the performance started."
A photo posted on Facebook has prompted an outpouring of comments.
Here is WXIA's video coverage of the story:
Last updated: 4 April 2012
 | Sources: |
WXIA-TV [Atlanta]. "Disabled Student Sidelined During Choir Performance." 29 March 2012. WXIA-TV [Atlanta]. "Disabled Child Left Out During High School Choir Recital." 30 March 2012.