Jun 22, 2013
Miles Ambridge left out of class photo
Miles Ambridge left out of class photo, The little boy who was cruelly left off to the side of his second-grade class photo has had it retaken.
Miles Ambridges' original class photo showed the little boy, who has disabilities, sitting in his wheelchair and isolated from the group.
The picture drew outrage from parents and readers around the world.
'I couldn’t comprehend how the photographer could look through the lens and think that the picture was good composition. ... it just boggled the mind,' said mom Anne Belanger.
'Being picked on and being set aside is horrendous and this was what was happening.'
In the original photo the second-grader clearly wants to be included and can be seen straining his body to be closer to the group.
Mrs Belanger calls the new photo 'gorgeous' as her son is taken out of his wheelchair and given pride of place on the front row, right next to his classroom assistant.
Miles, who was never shown the original photo by his parents, is beaming as usual, his smile shining as brightly as his stripey coloured sweater. He is unaware that it caused any controversy.
The seven-year-old boy has a genetic disease called spinal muscular atrophy, which weakens his muscles and requires him to use a wheelchair.
When he saw the new photo, he was delighted. 'Oh, mommy! This is so nice,' he said.
According to the Today Show, Ambridges’ parents were pleased with the way the Canadian elementary school handled the situation. They felt the school went out of its way to make things right.
Miles’ father Don Ambridge, who saw the photo first, was appalled and demanded that Herbert Spencer Elementary School ask the company to retake the picture.
'This was not a malicious act, I don’t think it was done on purpose. I just don’t think there was any rational thinking behind it,' Mr Belanger said.