The Disability Rights Center is fighting to ensure that the three kids will be placed back in their school. The superintendent of the Pea Ridge district has declined to offer a statement on the controversy, but has indicated the school sought legal counsel before making their decision.
Last year, a private school in Pennsylvania sparked widespread protests after denying admission to an HIV-positive boy. Advocates pointed out that children shouldn’t be denied education opportunities simply because they have HIV. The school eventually reversed its decision after a legal battle with the U.S. Department of Justice, and agreed to provide staff with additional HIV sensitivity training.
Despite significant medical advances that help HIV-positive Americans live increasingly longer and healthier lives, many people still have widespread misconceptions about how the virus is actually spread. That lack of education has contributed to a pervasive stigma surrounding HIV — and a reluctance to integrate HIV-positive individuals with other people who don’t have the virus. Ultimately, that type of stigmatization only helps maintains the epidemic by hampering HIV prevention and outreach efforts.
Article Appeared @http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/09/16/2623371/hiv-students-arkansas-public-school/