PEPPER PIKE -- Crohn's disease makes even typing a few words difficult for 18-year-old Josh Shapiro.
"I have pains in my stomach," the Orange High School student said. "Sometimes it feels a little difficult to breathe. I have constant joint pain."
The fatigue associated with the disease made Shapiro and his parents decide to reduce his class schedule from five to three classes.
"Because I take fewer classes and because I am at the school less often, the class of 2008, half of them don't know I am part of the class of 2008."
He still maintains an A-average but Shapiro's three credits short of graduating.
"It's very healthy to be part of the crowd sometimes and for Josh, that's all he wants," his father, Jerry Isaak- Shaprio, said. "For me, that's very frustrating."
Josh's mother, Deborah Isaak- Shapiro added, "We're not asking he get a diploma, we're asking he participate in graduation with his class."
Despite several phone calls, emails and even a meeting with the Orange Board of Education, the answer is still no.
The school district emailed a statement to Channel 3 News on Wednesday. It said, "The Orange School District policy clearly states the requirements for graduating and participating in commencement exercises. When a student does not meet those conditions, he or she cannot partake in commencement."
"It certainly makes me a little angry, frustrated," Josh Shaprio said, "kind of sad."
If Josh felt like an outcast before, he doesn't now. One student sensitive to his struggle started a Facebook page called "let josh graduate!" There are 180 students in his class and so far, 75 of them signed on as supporters.
The graduation ceremony is scheduled for Sunday.
Shapiro says even if the district is doesn't make an exception, perhaps his story will make a difference for the next student with a similar problem.
Original article located at www.wkyc.com
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