For this week’s blog, I chose an article that opened my eyes a bit to the reality of people in this world. http://www.businessweek.com/careers/workingparents/blog/archives/2009/09/kids_with_disab.html
It discusses how some people view children with disabilities in schools as a waste of effort and tax money. Why would we waste our time trying to help someone with little to no potential? Why wouldn’t we give all of our attention to those children who are gifted, who are intelligent, and who will make a difference in the world one day? I mean they are going to be the ones becoming doctors and lawyers, and who are going to eventually run this country… right? Hmm… don’t think so. I know that everyone responding to this blog is in the same boat, and I know that we all have personally experienced the importance of special education. Like the article says, people are not limited by their disability, they are limited by a lack of opportunity.
And so that is not necessarily what I am asking your opinion on. In reading this article, I was very much taken back by Lilly’s bitterness and anger towards those with disabilities in the schools. Are people really that heartless? Are they really so concerned with their tax dollars that they’d go after handicapped children? Apparently some are. I have an older sister with profound disabilities, and she was able to attend a special school for the disabled for 18 years. My family was never encountered with issues of acceptance by other parents at the school. We were welcomed with open arms and taken in as family. Although there have certainly been other situations where people have judged and rejected us because of these disabilities, I never felt anything of the sort from her school setting. That place was a safe-haven. I am finding that the public school systems are not all sugar and spice though. The harsh reality is that many people do not appreciate those with disabilities and many people do not value the efforts of educators that want to maximize these students’ potentials. And so this is what I want to know from you… what do you think it will take from a school community to create a common appreciation for these students? Parent meetings.. Information pamphlets… More peer tutoring opportunities… Awareness assemblies? The article talks about Dan’s efforts in the form of a film, which reached millions by airing on television and receiving tons of press. And although I thought this was wonderful, I wonder what practical things we can apply in the schools that will also make a difference. Many of you have already worked in a school setting. How have you seen teachers try and break down these barriers? What ideas can we as future teachers bring into the schools to create a community of awareness and appreciation, so that all the "Lillys" out there will understand the real objectives of special education… Do you think that is even possible? Or do you think it’s not really worth trying because people won’t change?
I know that in the school I work in many see my class as stupid and are afraid of most of the students. It is generally thought that my class is worthless and that we are there to babysit, this includes some of the people that have worked in the class. I have tried my best to make it clear to my coworkers and other children at the school that these are the best kids and if they knew them they would love them. I have become a bit discouraged myself and feel that you have to be related to or have worked with a person with disabilities to like them. I mean how many of us in the class have chosen this major without previous contact with people with disabilities? I feel that direct contact or giving presentations with a person who has a disability, describing their progress, is the only way to increase awareness. Seeing starving children on the television makes me feel bad but I still do not donate money, I think I would donate if I went to Africa and saw the problems for myself. The same goes with the average person until they see the struggle they will have no empathy and no drive to change their minds. I also think that there will also be people who are prejudice and want to dislike people with disabilities but the best way to change minds to to introduce them to a person with a disability.
ReplyDeleteBeing a member of the church has helped me understand and appreciate people with disabilities. I realize that they are not exceptions to God's love, and therefore our love as well. I believe that these special children of our Heavenly Father have a very important role on our planet. Besides being able to accomplish much in their days here, they are also able to influence much. I have learned more about the pure love of Christ from spending time with some students with disabilities than from anyone else. Because of this I believe that the best way to help others realize how important these children and there education are we must provide opportunities for interaction. The schools are able to provide that opportunity in a way that no other institution can. These children need all of the help in success that they can get, and the people of this world need every opportunity to learn about compassion that they can get. Involving the community through tutoring programs, field trips, possible job opportunities, clubs at school, classroom observations, and anything else teachers and administrators can think of to get people outside the school and these special students in the same room and interacting will be of benefit to both parties. I think teachers just need to be creative in their choices of activities and widespread in their advertisement of opportunities for people to get involved. I would never say don't try. We must do all that we can in this life so that when we meet the Savior on the other side we can say we gave all we had and tried to love as he would. With His help we can make a difference.
ReplyDeleteWhat always strikes me as somewhat funny (that's not quite the word, but I'll use it) is that people like Lilly will go to an extreme to not help students with disabilities. However, if one of her children or even she herself where in that situation, I know she would be responding quite different to the policies and practices that go on to help those with disabilities. That's exactly what happened to Dan, as mentioned in the article. All people can change, but change will always be gradual when it involves the whole nation or even a small community. Just look at the Civil Rights. That took years to come about and we're still having problems with racism today and giving equal opportunity, but change did happen when I'm sure no one thought it would in the early 1900's. There are some things that we can do to help people change their mind about inclusion and helping those with disabilities. One thing that I found creative in helping those with disabilities is making sure that they are included in all activities that the school provides. For instance, at Springville, one of the students is on student government and I know that has helped raise awareness for the whole school. Another thing I have seen happen in the schools is for a teacher to gain the confidence and trust of his students first and then teach them about peer tutoring and the importance of it for those with disabilities. I'll be honest though, what motivates me the most about things like this are motivational movies. Maybe making a movie about the students with disabilities in the classroom or what they go through in their lives and showing that at an assembly would be helpful to the whole school and all of the teachers.
ReplyDeleteI think that assemblies for parents and students could really bring awareness to the community. I remember assemblies we had with an inspirational speaker who did not grow up with disabilities but then had an accident that left him in a wheelchair. Seeing someone transition to a new life was so inspiring. I believe that if we had grown ups who grew up with disabilities give assemblies, show what they have accomplished (especially those who had a great teacher and school who supported them) it would help soften the hearts of those who have hardened them. Unfortunately, I think no matter how many assemblies we have, town meetings, or brochures that there will always be people who do not support the special ed program. Who think that it is a waste of time. This makes me so sad. But like an prejudice in this world it never just goes away. I do agree that making a movie to show to your school would help make it more personable and give a better idea to the school what special ed is about and how great these kids are.
ReplyDeleteI’ll be the first to admit that reading this article and the opinion of Lily got me a little riled up. To say that it is a waste of tax dollars is incredibly ignorant. Along with her comment that parents choose to have kids with disabilities, I have no clue where her information came from. The reason parents have to “fight, fight, fight” for their children is because people like her want to disregard them and any possible potential they have. I think that if she even had a little understanding of disabilities and that the outside actions do not always accurately portray what is going on inside, or even if she knew that once “normal” people could become disabled in an instant, or that no one chose this for their children she might think differently. One day she might see that God may have chosen to put a special spirit inside a guarded body for a reason. I think that it will take a lot of effort to create a common appreciation for special education students. Its hard to bring someone to a realization of something they have no compassion for or understanding of. Therefore, I think that awareness assemblies can start a seed of recognition of their struggles but there is no replacement for experiencing their sweet spirits first hand. I think that children with special needs also have the drive to help others (just because they have a deep need to be helped, why can’t they have the satisfaction of serving others as well?). So, I think that by getting the kids out into the community and interacting and serving with others, they will be able to be recognized as “contributing” students and by serving along side other members of the community, friendships will be formed and appreciation started. I hope that it is possible to help people understand the objectives of special education and although I know that it is very hard to change people, I believe that the task is worth the try. Special education students deserve the same respect as the “other” children in their schools.
ReplyDeleteI can hardly fathom the idea that someone would think that it is a waste of tax dollars to provide our communities and schools with the necessary information to overcome prejudices against the disabled. I grew up in a school that did not educate people about those with disabilities and did not include the special education department within the regular education class rooms. Because of this separation people were ignorant and uncomfortable about individuals with disabilities. It is our responsibility to educate the public about these individuals. I love the idea of assemblies with speakers who are disabled. I went to a down syndrome walk once where a woman with down syndrome spoke, she was in her thirties and completely independent. It was incredibly inspiring and showed the potential of individuals with disabilities as long as they have the support of the community behind them. Incorporating programs and productions that will educate students and societies of the worth of individuals with disabilities would only make communities better.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I can't believe that there are people in the world that actually believe this kind of stuff. It makes me sick to my stomach that someone would want to throw away the potential of a human being all for something like money. I do realize that this is a problem. many people only care about themselves and their own personal gain. I think the only true way to help these people to see the absolute beauty and amazing potential of special education students is through service. I think if these kinds of people were to actually be a part of the service of helping someone with a disabilty they would understand what these kids can really do. I don't care what the disability is, each of these students have room to grow. I realize that the kind of people that believe this rubbish are generally not the kind of people that would want to serve a student with a disability. Because of this it is important that as special educators we try our best to reach out to the community and to our schools for more assistance through peer tutoring. We can get people involved by starting clubs, assemblies, extra curricular activities etc. I think another great way is getting the actual students involved in service around the community. I think service breaks down the barriers and hatred that we create as human beings. Service is contagious. Once it starts everyone will catch on!
ReplyDeleteThat's really just sad that someone would think that it is a waste of tax-dollars to use them to help the disabled. I don't think I've run into that too much, but I definitely know a lot of people who have little or no contact with people who have disabilities and consequently feel bad for them, but that's all; they wish they could help but don't know how. I liked what Kate said about commercials for children in Africa-- most people want to help, but generally they don't do anything about it. The movie that Dan made sounds very inspiring and I think that is a great first step, but I agree that people won't do anything without interaction with students with disabilities. School is definitely the best place to start cultivating a love for those who are different than us, especially as many of us found that love as we worked with students in school. So, I think schools starting with elementary schools should set up activities to set up that interaction, like peer tutoring. If we can get that love as people are children, it will only grow as they grow older and they will want to help those with our tax dollars or in whatever other ways they can find.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Lilly's comment was rather ignorant. It did not occur to me that people could be so heartless as to think that special education is a waste of tax money. The cost of special education does not out weigh the benefits to those being educated and to society around them. I do think that awareness assemblies would help children to understand the circumstances. By the sound of Lilly's comment it didn't seem as though she would change her mind or anything. I think that peer tutoring programs are also important because it gives students a chance to work with students with special needs. You can't understand someones worth until you get to know them. I believe it is important to show children the abilities of special needs students. They contribute to society every day just by living and most of them are constantly happy and improving the morale of those around them. Judging by her comment, I bet Lilly is a real ray of sunshine for those around her. But, perhaps she does not understand because she has not worked and seen the contribution of the children. I think that awareness programs would be good.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting topic. I have worked at a special education camp and worked in the most severe classroom, other staff members would sometimes make comments about how they could only handle "so much". Meaning, they wouldn't want to work with the students in the room I worked in. However, I believe that if they did work with these students they would learn to love them. And maybe Lilly, if she had more experience with children with disabilities, would have a different opinion on the public school system. I don't know the best solution to changing the way certain people think about public education and students with disabilities but one of the ways I think could help is to inform others. Inform them about the improvements these students make in the classroom.
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