Autistic Royal High Graduate Threatens Suit

Ryan Rose, 18, left Simi Valley for college more than a week ago, but the autistic Royal High School graduate is continuing his crusade to include special education students in commencement speeches.

Rose’s attorney, Donald M. Adams Jr., this week threatened to sue the Simi Valley Unified School District if it does not, in the next 30 days, create a separate category for special education students in its commencement exercises.

Rose, who graduated from Royal last spring, tried out to speak at commencement but was not chosen by a peer selection committee. His mother, Peggy Rose, said her son’s exclusion was discrimination. Ryan is now attending California State Polytechnic University in Pomona.

“Ryan has moved on, but Ryan asked us to pursue it,” Peggy Rose said. “He doesn’t want another child to go through the same things he did.”

District officials say they will respond to the letter by telling the Roses that they plan to address special education needs in the coming months, as the district goes through restructuring.

Supt. Mary Beth Wolford said the committee examining the transition to four-year high schools will discuss the role of special education students in commencement exercises as the ceremony moves closer.

“I don’t know that singling out one group is appropriate,” Wolford said. “But maybe we could have a category called a special category, and rotate different groups of students, maybe having a speaker one year whose primary language isn’t English or GATE students or special education students.”

But Peggy Rose said the district is dragging its feet when it comes to addressing an issue that has been around since last spring.

“Ryan stood up for his rights; how many so-called special ed kids do that?” she said.