European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 29, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday May 29, 1994 the stars and stripes Page 5 by Ron Jensen v Niernberg Bureau Furth Germany Stacey Adams was horribly injured one year ago last wednesday seconds after stepping off a bus that her parents did not want her to ride. A a a a a a / a a a a they tried to Tell us we were holding Stacey Back a says Steven Adams the girls father. School officials contend that the Law requires students such As Stacey to have As much real world experience As possible including that of Riding Public transportation. Stacey 16 when the Accident occurred has a learning disability. At the time she functioned in Many ways As a 5-or 6-year-old does. A i was scared that Stacey would see a shop or something and get off the bus a says Cheri Adams the girls Mother. Instead Stacey raced into the Street and into the path of an oncoming car. The Impact lifted her into the air and tossed her several Yards Down the Street All in front of her brother Joshua then 13. In an Effort to save the military Community Money transporting pupils to and from school the Niernberg school District arranged German Public transportation passes for its children. Contract buses had become too costly officials said at the time late summer 1992. A 7 the policy was an easy one to implement in most cases and was welcomed by Many families. The passes after All could be used for More than just travelling to and from school. A a lots of people liked that a says Larry Philpot the superintendent of the Niernberg District for the department of defense dependents schools. A that was a real plus for our children and parents in Many  but Stacey Adams was not most students. She was by virtue of her learning disability special. And her parents sought special transportation. They wanted a separate bus to carry both Stacey and Joshua to school. The school agreed but Only for Stacey Joshua could not ride the special bus and would have to use Public transportation. A we tried to explain that we did no to want Stacey separated from Joshua a Steven Adams says. Stacey would have reached Home before her brother and been alone in the House while both parents worked. A we did no to want  Sash Tea How could this Accident not cause us to be More careful and More thoughtful regarding this1 Issue just one visit to that child will make you  your life.�?T. Superintendent Larry Philpot Nymberg District for Dodds to explain Why Stacey was on the Public bus Philpot relies on the Law. But he worries that a Legal explanation will make him and school officials appear uncaring and in compassionate. Philpot recently met with the Adams family including Stacey during a visit to Arizona where the girl is in a rehabilitative facility. He was greatly moved by the visit. Cheri Adams says Philpot left with tears in his eyes. He says he was moved far More than simply tears. A we done to have any Choice but to talk about the Legal aspects of this a Philpot says while chewing an unlighted Cigar in his office in Firth. Public Law 101-476, known As the individuals with disabilities education act or idea requires school districts including those belonging to Dodds to educate children with disabilities for life inside and outside the classroom. In assessing each Pupil with special needs Dodds created a Case study committee to evaluate the individual. In Stacey Adams Case the committee members were Louise Nelson Stacey a special education teacher Debbie Stradinger another special education teacher Phil Jones a classroom teacher and Mamie Crawford the assistant principal of the High school plus Cheri and Steven  the committee decided against putting Stacey Adams on Public transportation but also chose to put the girl through a training period to. Determine her ability to handle it a the minutes of the study committee indicate that mrs. Adams asked for special transportation for Stacey Quot says Lorie Sebestyen the districts special education specialist. After the training the committee decided that Stacey was capable of Riding the Public bus Philpot says. He says the committee determined that Stacey a needed the life experience of getting around by Public transportation. Sebestyen interjects a that she was also ready for that  did Cheri Adams still object not that the minutes indicate Sebestyen says. Plus she adds Cheri Adams. Signed the individualized education program which stated that Stacey would be on Public transportation. Cheri Adams says yes she did sign a i was told that i had to sign a paper saying that i knew Stacey was going to be on that bus. I did no to agree to it a she says. 1 a a a Quot a a. A a a a Philpot says a a it a certainly not the school systems Job to put a student in jeopardy. The Case study committee said the student was not in jeopardy. A if any of us in the school system could look at that situation after the history has been written of the Accident it would be easy to reconsider. A the Accident has understandably had a bearing on How careful we Are with the training sessions and the decision to use Public transportation. Given what we knew at that moment we believe that decision was in the Best interest of Stacey Adams. A this Case did not change the Laws. To say it did no to have an effect on All of us would be wrong. But the Law did no to change nor did the process and policies change on How to make that decision. A How could this Accident not cause us to be More careful and More thoughtful regarding this Issue just one visit to that child will make you careful for the rest of your  from Page 4 Adams says. A the time is not  71. A Quot a a. A a or. Edyth Harvey does not know the Adames. She is clinical director of the laureate psychiatric clinic and Hospital in Tulsa okla. A 7 she is told of the and Amses situation and is asked to speak about the effects of an Accident like Stacey son a family any family. A they need to be in some sort of family counselling a says Harvey a medical doctor and psychiatrist. A there is an increased morbidity a especially psychiatric morbidity a following an incident like  there is a Range of Levels common to such situations from dental and anger to eventual acceptance. It is important for a family to reach that final stage. As Long As a family continues to be angry and to reject acceptance she says a they Are handicapped themselves. They Are in a trap.�?�. A they need to be aware that they can have fun and go on with their lives. They done to Nave to include her in  that she admits is difficult. A they have to feel Good about not including her. They Are going to have to  a a a not Long after returning to the United states last fall Steven Adams was driving a rental car. Another Driver ran a red Light and slammed into his vehicle. He was unhurt but the rental car was totalled. Four weeks ago he broke his leg in three places in another incident. Cheri Adams still has uncontrolled outbursts of emotion. It must sound As if someone is killing her she says. Stacey becomes ill often. A a she a running temperatures a Steve Adams says. Quot they done to know what a causing it. They called the other night. Cheri went to the Hospital at 3 of clock in the  Joshua now 14, is in counselling. Kinsey 7, is not. A Kinsey seems to be doing of a her father says. A she does no to talk about Stacey Here at Home. She talks to her teachers and to the bus  Steven Adams adds in his tired voice a i think its going to be another Tough year in front of  in a d a contest by Jim Jones education writer since attaining a Fame and fortunes in March Justin Helphenstine has been Busy. V a a v a. A a a a a a in be been studying and griping with cd cry Day life a the 10-year-old Champion speller said saturday As he looked for Ward to this weeks Scripps Howard National spelling Bee in Washington . A my mom has been helping a lot encouraging me to study. We do have to spell a lot of those wonderful words to help me work my Way to Fame. It does get Boring sometimes but then i think of ., and 1 get really enthusiastic."7 -7 Justin and his Mother Rebecca Are leaving Frankfurt Germany for Washington today Justin on a 1 . Delta air lines flight. Going with them Are Justin a dad air Force master sgt Paul Helphenstine and Justin a 7-Ycar-old brother Dakota. An afternoon arrival today in Washington will begin a we Klong adventure for which Justin is a very ready a he said in a Telephone interview saturday from his Home at Ramstein a. Justin was the Winner of the 12th annual european spelling Bee held March 26 in Kaiserslautern Germany and sponsored by the european Congress of american parents teachers and students. He is the department of defense dependents schools representative to the Scripps Howard spelling Bee. After winning the european Bee Justin said he Felt As if he had reached a Fame and Fortune at the age of 10.�?� he spent his final hours saturday a mostly getting ready a he said. On saturday Justin a mom was having a a a hectic a Day a packing and making sure items on the checklist Are done Quot she said. A a he a staying much Calmer than i  Rebecca Helphenstine said they decided to make the trip a family affair since a none of us have been to . Before. It seems like a  Justin will face stiff Competition wednesday and thursday during nation Al spelling Bee week which begins today he will be taking on contestants from most of the 50 states the District of Columbia Guam puerto Rico and the Virgin islands in addition to the two Days of grueling Competition the week will feature Tours social events and possibly a visit with president Clinton. After studying his word list for the National Bee Justin said he was a was prepared As i Ever will  he predicted he will do a pretty Good at the National level. But whatever the outcome he was excited about the trip to Washington. He said he most looked Forward to visiting various museums with the smithsonian institution at the top of the list. He added that his brother Dakota a Quot space Whiz a would get a kick out of the museum too. More than $25,000 in Cash and prizes will be awarded in the National contest sponsored by the Scripps Howard publishing Chain and More than 200 daily and weekly newspapers. The top contender will receive $5,000, a trophy and other prizes. A i wish All the other contestants Good Luck a Justin said. Quot in a very