I am a Wareham resident with three children who fall into the special-needs student category. I have started a movement called Together We Can to empower Wareham residents with special-needs children to get their children the help they need.

The public schools have lied to every resident in this town when they claim special needs is crippling our system.

Special needs accommodations per the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education rules and regulations are not being met by Wareham Public Schools. They are failing miserably on MCAS, and I believe it is due to the schools' failure/refusal to accommodate.

I am making a plea for all Wareham residents (and those from any other town in Massachusetts) who have had trouble getting accommodations for their child to call or e-mail me.

These troubles include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Getting a diagnosis, i.e., if a parent thinks something is "up" with their child and can't get help or answers from school teachers, other personnel or doctors; 2. A child has been diagnosed and the parent can't get an Individualized Education Program plan without an insult, or just clear refusal to accommodate; 3. If the teacher has ever announced to the class that the child is a special education student; 4. The child has an IEP and teachers and other school personnel refuse to implement or follow the written accommodations.

I know that this is just the start. There are two parents that I know of who would like to file complaints that their children have been hurt as a result of refusal of accommodations.

On May 17, there is a meeting put on by the Disability Law Center, which will explain Massachusetts public special education laws. This is a free meeting. After the meeting, there will be free legal consultation. I am already signed up and they have at least one lawyer for us. I would like to hear from parents. If we get enough people to go on the trip, I am hoping to rent a bus.

I would also like to ask teachers, school staff and others in the system to send me their anonymous testimonies of special education problems from their perspective.

Parents can contact me at (508) 273-7817 or lynneburroughs@comcast.net.