Documentary Filmed On Down Syndrome Teen's Battle For Inclusion

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — A documentary will be filming in Westhampton Beach Wednesday about the battle faced by a local teen with Down syndrome to attend school with his classmates and friends.

Christian and Terrie Killoran have been fighting for their son's right to attend school for years; in 2017, they filed a complaint in federal court.

The complaint, filed with the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, states that Aiden Killoran, now 16, "continues to suffer from the significant emotional, psychological and physical effects caused by Westhampton's affirmative and discriminatory actions."

On Wednesday, said Christian Killoran, filming will begin to document their son's story: "Rota6 Films is bringing Aiden’s battle to the big screen with a documentary on inclusion," he said. "Can’t wait for the finished product and the hopeful interviews with the responsible Board of Eduction members. Will be great for posterity, and hope to have it shown at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center for years to come."

Aiden's mom Terrie said the documentary will chronicle her son's journey and quest to be included in the WHUFSD. A film crew wants to film in Westhampton Beach at 6:15 p.m., she said. "Please meet us for about 30 minutes at Sugar Daddys Toy Store at 6:15 p.m. sharp," she said. "We need as many friends as possible to show our town is vibrant and supports inclusion."

As recently as last summer, Aiden Killoran was rejected by the Westhampton Beach School District as a volunteer, his father Christian Killoran said.

"Amidst the current litigation, wherein we are seeking inclusion of Aiden within the school district, Westhampton has now denied Aiden's application to serve as a volunteer within its summer recreation program," he said at the time.

When reached by email regarding the incident, Westhampton Beach School District Superintendent Mike Radday responded: "This matter is the subject of ongoing litigation. Accordingly, I am unable to comment at this time."

Aiden's heartbroken mom shared her feelings: "It is truly unbelievable. This kid just wants to be included in his Greater Westhampton Community, alongside familiar peers, in the school he would have gone to if he didn't have a disability. He has so many friends who want to include him and want him to be apart of their lives."

Since Aiden graduated from Remsenburg-Speonk Union Free School District, Christian Killoran said, the Westhampton Beach School District "continues to have its heels stuck in the ground, so as to preserve its discriminatory culture of institutional laziness."

And, Killoran said, "Remarkably, New York State remains the worst state in the nation regarding inclusion, and Westhampton remains a perfect example of this antiquated mind-set. The recent Supreme Court decisions profile that Westhampton can no longer 'hide' behind its past practices. It is just sad, and frustrating that the Board of Education and superintendent would be so foolish with the taxpayers' money, simply to preserve their personal agendas. It's actually an outrage."

Aiden, Terrie said, has been a vital part of the community since birth, attending Saint Mark's Bright Beginnings Preschool at the age of 2 and then the Remsenburg-Speonk School District, "always on the same path as his peers. Along the way, making friendships to last a lifetime."

While many of his peers will go to college, return to the area, settle down, have families and perhaps open businesses, the path for her son is marked by challenges, Killoran said.

"We do not know if Aiden will go to college but one thing is sure — he will have to depend upon his relationships to get a job. It is so heartbreaking and detrimental for him not be able to continue his relationships and friendships, not to mention being absent from his community, further delaying his independence, navigating community roads and establishing more community relationships," Terrie said.

She added, "We are all different but all the same. A community is just that. We all help each other and include each other."

She and her husband have said that New York State has been ranked #50 in terms on inclusion. "The time is now to make a change, instead of fighting so hard to keep segregation," Killoran said.

For all the many who have rallied by their sides, Killoran said, "We are thankful for all of the community support and truly have hope and faith in our hearts that change will happen. We believe the core values of our community stem from meaningful relationships, honesty, a commitment to rejoice together, mourn together, delight in each other and make others conditions our own.

"He is way more than his testing," Aiden's mother added. "He's an amazing, funny, happy, smart kid with a ton of friends. He reads on a second and third grade level, reads and writes stories,, enjoys math and science — and his decoding skills are probably on a sixth grade level. He has been a part of the seventh grade lacrosse team this season and loves being included."

A lengthy battle

The Killorans have been advocating for years for Aiden's right to continue to attend middle school in Westhampton Beach with his brother and the friends he attended classes with in Remsenburg.
The past years have been marked with hurdles as they filed a federal lawsuit regarding the Westhampton Beach School district, which, they said, has not provided a program to educate their alternately assessed special needs child.

Westhampton Beach School District, Killoran said, was ordered to formally enroll Aiden, retain a qualified consultant on inclusion, with experience at the middle school level, and reconvene a Committee on Special Education to develop an appropriate individualized education program, or IEP, for Aiden, something that was seen as a victory.

In 2017, however, he remained only partially enrolled, Killoran said, suffering the "educational deprivations of not being educated completely within the least restrictive environment possible."

Radday commented on the decision regarding the consultant in past years: "Westhampton Beach School District has reviewed the decision of Impartial Hearing Officer Nancy Lederman and will fully comply with her order. The order requires the district to retain an educational consultant to review the child's educational records, to examine appropriate 'life skills' placements both within and outside the district, and to recommend to the district's committee on special education (CSE) an appropriate program and placement. We are pleased that IHO Lederman has directed the case back to the district's CSE, which is the appropriate venue for program and placement decisions. The district will move forward in compliance with IHO Lederman's order, despite the parents' decision to file an appeal of the decision to the New York State Education Department's Office of State Review."

Although his parents have tried to "shield" Aiden from what's been transpiring, "He just wants to go to school with his brother and the friends he grew up with," Killoran said.

The Killorans also have a daughter, Shannon, he said.

The Killorans also kicked off a Change.org petition, "My Son with Down Syndrome Deserves An Education."