SIMI VALLEY : Autistic Student’s Family Files Claim

The family of Ryan Rose, an autistic student who was not allowed to deliver a speech at Royal High School’s graduation last year, has filed a claim against the Simi Valley Unified School District.

The claim, a precursor to a lawsuit against the district, alleges that Rose was denied educational opportunities because of his disability. Peggy Rose, Ryan’s mother, said the next step is to file a suit in federal court claiming that the district violated the Americans With Disabilities Act by discriminating against her son.

Rose applied to be a speaker at his graduation, but was not chosen by a peer selection committee. Committee members said three other students gave speeches that were more interesting and applicable to the general student population than Rose’s speech, which detailed his experiences overcoming autism.

Although Rose is now a freshman at Cal State Polytechnic University in Pomona, his parents are continuing the fight to force the district to create a special category for disabled students speaking at graduation.

District officials have said they are addressing the Rose family’s commencement speech concerns through a series of committees currently looking at restructuring the high schools.