Cap and gown

Milestone events are important memories of our lifetimes: births, birthdays, graduation, engagements, weddings, anniversaries.

We are in the season of high school and college graduations. Thanks to the efforts of a Jackson High School student, her mother and state Rep. Scott Lipke, some students who might have been excluded from a high school commencement program next year will be able to don a cap and gown and march with their contemporaries.

Kaitlyn's Law, signed shortly after the Missouri Legislature recently ended its session, is named for Kaitlyn Thompson, a Jackson High School student with disabilities. The law provides for students like Kaitlyn, who are in an individualized education plan and have completed four years of high school, to participate in graduation activities with their classmates. Kaitlyn, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, will continue to receive services from the school district after she completes her senior year.

Before this law became effective, policies varied, but many school districts barred such students from graduation events if they had not completed all the academic requirements for graduation and would be receiving school services beyond four years. Kaitlyn's Law recognizes the importance of the bonding that occurs with other students and being part of a particular class.

Kaitlyn and her mother, Traci Ritter, worked with Representative Lipke on the bill allowing students with disabilities to participate fully in the graduation events.

The proposed law, approved earlier in the legislative session by the Missouri House, sailed through the Senate without a dissenting vote. Gov. Jay Nixon signed the law May 14. Kaitlyn is looking forward to the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2010.