2nd Grade Class Picture Separates Boy in Wheelchair from his Classmates

This is a photo that mother Anne Belanger got of her son’s 2 grade class. She received the picture of her son Miles Ambridge and his class mates last month.

Her 7 year-old, who is confined to a wheelchair as a result of spinal muscular atrophy had been placed, chair and all, far off to the side from the rest of his classmates.

According to theprovince.com:

 When Anne Belanger received the picture she immediately stuffed the image back into its envelope in disgust. “Look at the angle that he was in,” said the New Westminster mom, her voice a whisper as she fought back tears. “He’s ostracized. He wants to be part of the gang so much.”  Ambridge, who was the first to see the photo, said the image made him feel humiliated for his son. “For some reason it makes me feel even worse that he’s so happy in the picture,” he said. “I think it’s because he’s still innocent ... He’s still naive to how other people can treat him.”

Miles’ parents have decided to keep the photo from their son, who hasn’t seen the picture. Belanger said Miles is “profoundly aware that he’s different than his peers.” If he saw it, she thinks he would be deeply hurt.

The parents wanted to use the photo to bring attention to the discrimination of people with disabilities.

At first blush I my heart simply goes out to this young man and his family.  What do you think?