Unified Golf

             

         The  red ball is   part of  a campaign to get more people involved in Unified Sports. I thought I would share my  reflections from my first Unified golf tournament   Its an event to   encourage people to play unified.



 In August I played in my first Unified golf tourment. It had a  fun time.  I  got to know a fellow female golfer I will  call her Kim.  Kim is actually step mom to a guy  I went  to high school with.  We were even  able to meet up and practice on a  friday night. Which got me out of the house.    I  love  golf a lot.  I  played  golf in high school on the  practice team.

The Unified  golf it self is really  cool. It was the first time I played on the course in a tournament so  it  made it really exciting    I played Ok.  I had some bad shots but Kim was able to help me refocus and play.    We got sliver but I would say that  the other two teams were similarly matched.    I  really  wish  the special olympics  season was a little bit longer.    Our season was only eight weeks  long.  My  goal for next season is to play 9 hole individual  round.    Speaking of next year I really hope that I will be able to  make the trip down to  LA  next year  to watch the opening ceremonies next year.

 Here are some more  pictures

 WE both got medals because we both played hard. 

 On the course selfie

A Gap in my knowledge

      There is a show on  Fox and  National  Geographic   called  Cosmos.  I really  love this show.   The show   talks about    science.

       Ever since  I  have been watching this show, I  can not help  but  moran  for    a chance to be in middle school again.  In   middle  school  kids in  resource  only  took three core classes.   Everyone was  required  to  take   English,   then referred  to as Language  Arts, and  Mathematics. In terms of history and scince   at my middle school  you  were supposed  to  chose  between  the two.  All three  years of  middle school  the school and my parents  chose  history.  This  really  paid  off because  now I am  a  self  proclaimed history buff  and   passed  my  AP  test my junior year of high school in  American  History.   But   all three  years I
missed out  on  science.

  In high school   when  I  finally took  science ,  I struggled  in science  a lot.  In  biology  I was able to  work with the teacher who  was able  to help me  on test.   In   Chemistry  it was   really  hard  because I was  lazy  probably  in part  because I  had never  had  science  in  middle school.  In  college   I did well in Biology , but when  it came time to  take   the Solar System,  I was   lost  because  I   did not  know the order of the planets . I had  to work really  hard and  I  passed.

    Instead  of   learning science  in  middle school I  had   resource  room  where  I was bullied a lot   from other students  while the teachers did not  do anything.

 Lets think about what  my day would have looked like  if  my school   practiced  best practices  My   teachers  would have  came into the class  and   help me  inside   my  general education  classes.    Maybe  I would get pulled out   in a small group  once a week  for  pre-teaching  and  study  skills  development  in  areas  that I   needed help  with.      Since it was  a small  group   and  it was   with a purpose   perhaps   the other students would have been busy and  not   teased  me.    I  would  have  taken  Science and   History .      I wouldn't  have gaps  in my knowledge    Perhaps in  high school  I would  have   had an  easier  time  in  my science  classes.     I  might  have had the   foundation  I needed  to  take  an  AP  science course.  In  short   I  might have  had  a  educational career  similar to   my  peers  who did  not have a disability.

  All  schools  should   practice  best   practices   All  students  need to  learn   in  inclusive classes just like  they  would have  if  they did not have a disability.  We  are  Worthy!

60 years later

 Over the weekend,   Brown  v  Board of  ed turned 60 years  old. This court  case  turned  over Plessy  vs Feguson  which said  Seprate but equal  was not acceptable.

  All the news stories     that I have heard   only talk about race.     Race is  important  I  totally  agree.   It is still an  important problem  that    society  has not worked out.

   But  there is another  issue   in the fight  for  equality in the schools

           Disabled  students


   Disabled students everywhere  are  learning in segregated classrooms.  Segregated  classrooms.  Children are missing out  on the opportunity  to learn  grade level class work  and   meet the kids  in their neighborhood   All studies have   shown that   special education  classes produce   bad outcomes for kids.   The  unemployment  level  for people with  disabilities is high.

  The  next  time you talk about diversity  remember that there  are students  who  look, move,  roll different  too.    In a  country as rich  as ours  we should  find the  resources to   allow all  students  to  learn  together.  There are  no excuses.

60 years later.
 We have a lot of  work to do.

Dear People sitting across the table

  Dear  People  sitting across the  table,

             You  guys are   gathered around a table for  a  school meeting of a student that  struggles.    Maybe  they   have  a intellectual  disability or a  behavior issue but  you are about to meet with that student and  their families to  talk about   the upcoming school  year.  I am that bad  student.   I  was the one  no one  wanted  to teach.  I was "the hardest student  I had ever had to  teach".    I  am now that adult  who  is  hardest   to teach.   I have  been those meetings and boy they are not  fun.

         Can I ask  you  guys around the  table  for a favor.  Can you  please   remember that every  person has  both a good and bad side to them.  Can  you  please   remember that    students like  me are not future  inmates  or  horrible   people  headed  nowhere.     We are more then  IQ scores or  how inteligble   our speech  is.

   Can  I  remind you that their  is no  alternative   to inclusive  education.     It is the  law  for a reason      No  research  has found that segregation  what  you  guys   call " a program" or " special  day  class"  is a better option  even  for  those with serve  disabilities.   LRE  says  that  students like me  should be  educated  for the most amount of time  among  peers  who do not have disabilities  using the rights supports and services and  if  all the supports  fail  first then is it ok  to   remove to a  more restrictive environment    That is the law.  No one should have to prove that they are worthy  of an education and everyone  learns at a different  pace.

    Dear  people  at the other  end at a  table  in an  IEP  meeting.   Before you  start ,  please  look into the  parents and  child  eyes.   Everyone has a story.   The parents   probably  have experienced  a lot of heartache  over  their  disabled child.     Most people  do not  want a  disabled family  member and   it is quite  possible  that  there was a  time when the child was  small  that they cried  for their  child's future.   You  may  be able  to go  home  and  back  to your  lives , but  the child's  parents  have to   see the child that  night.   Please make it easy for them to  see their child  that night.  If all you do  is   remind  said  parents that there  child is  rude and disruptive.  They  will have to go home and become  the cop to the child.  This  will  undoubtly   make the  student self esteem  suffer immensely which  will  lead to  more  bad behavior and  their  believing that  they are  bad people.  

Instead  of  calling it bad behavior  why  not  say"  Jimmy  is  confused  by the social  new-ounces  of  classroom  life.   Can  we  all  work together to  try to  teach  him  social  skills  so  he  can    get along in life."    It is a lack of  skill  not bad behavior.    Students are not bad if they  do not  understand  an Algebra  concept, nor  should  they  be  called  bad if they  do not understand   how  to  behave in class.        


   One last thing.   No  one has a crystal  ball so  try  not to  predict the  future  thanks.


  Sincerely

  A  young person that  lacks  social  skills, and
  has  a  strong love of  learning.

   image  urlhttp://www.picgifs.com/clip-art/communication/meeting/clip-art-meeting-532273.jpg

Cerebral Palsy Party Day 10: Soccer time

           

     The fall after  I graduated preschool.  I  turned five and started full inclusion pre-k.   I have a September  birthday  so  my  parents  wanted me to  wait another year  before kindergaten. They  talked to many people  that recommended that I  get another year to grow and learn  before  I start formal schooling.  Even though it was  pre -k  ment a new  school,  a privite traditional school with a small class size.  

 Soccer Star 

It also ment  soccer time.  I played soccer  on the neighborhood  tradtional   U5, bunch-ball  I got a great coach  who included me right from the start.   I would later  play  with him  in U10.  He would  nominate me  for  an award the second time around  and I would win.   He also  had a  daughter who attended out church.   I  was able to build community all around me because of inclusion  It worked.  Inclusion rocks.

Dear Public Schools,

   Dear  Public Schools,


  You  know when  you have school wide events,  and  the school  website  .  All  the kids  need to be represented.   That   means   every type of  learner  needs to be represented  at the school.   If you have  school  wide   pajama  party  or a  Science fair  or  walk a jog .  All kids  need to be represented.  Including those  kids in those  classrooms.  You  know the ones  who  for no fault of your own have special  needs.   Let me tell you a secret.

  Those    kids have names

 Those  kids   enjoy  having fun.

 Az, a student who has special needs goes down a bouncy slide  on her  Senior Activity Day.     

 Those kids want to belong to the school community

 So  next time  u have an event   Please make sure they know.   please  make sure they are invited.  If you  happend to take pictures of  said  event   please make sure you capture their smilies to  post on the website.   They    have  the same rights  as the  average students.

 Sincerely

 AZ
 ( a  student who   is friends  with  students in the Special Education  classes. and has  disabilities)

 AZ graduated  community college with honors and a  degree in Social Sciences 

Got  pic from http://prek-8.com/holiday/backtoschool/images/backtoschool_nametag1.jpg

Yesterday

  I Finally submitted my college applications inclusion does work


 Sorry  guys  I  have been  missing in action  a lot of exciting things are coming up   i  promise including the rest of Able to go to College  school has  been  crazy  busy  but  I  have not forgotten about  you guys  so  hang in their and I will  blog more soon.

Soaring to new heights

  Hay  guys  so  today  I   am  not   going to be blogging because  I  am  doing a  guest posts at  Think  Inclusive .  Check it out 

Deedah: the movie review

        How I got the movie 

to find out more about the movie  please visit http://www.deedahandme.com/

       In the fall  of 2010   I came across a  trailer for a movie made by  a sister about  her brother with down syndrome .  (This was  of course Deedah)    I watched it  over and over again   and wished I could have it  but I doubted that my parents would pay for it ( I have wanted the Child King for a while now but have not  yet seen it). I then found out about the blog and facebook group and I quickly  signed up for  both of them.  On the blog  in October -which is Down Syndrome and  Disability Awareness  month - the  blog  was giving away  a free copy of the DVD. I left a lot of comments   and  even though I did not win I still got a DVD for free due to my  "persistence and passion".    It was put in the mail  and  I waited  and waited  for the  DVD to show up. I would come home every day from collage and look in the mailbox  - which resulted in me taking the  mail in but after it came  the mail  was  not  that interesting  anymore - and  when it finally came I was  thrilled and excited  to see it.  Now a couple of months latter i have had the time to  review this movie.

    Review

 the  two kids from the film they are soo cute

  Like I said before Deedah  is a seven year old perspective about her brother with Down Syndrome.   The  two kids are -in the movie which was made  in 2009 so  they are a bit older now-  seven and five years old. Seven and five are  two cute  ages  and  these kids are no exception both kids are soo cute and fun to watch. The  sister is  the older one in the family with   her brother years behind him.   There names are John and Charlotte The name of the film comes from  the way john first said  his sister's name. John  was born with Down Syndrome  but the film  really shows how normal  his life really is.  John can   go down water slides, play mini-golf, and    goes to school in a inclusive program with  other   kindergartners.  The music  is  really  good , I found myself singing the songs in the film,  and  it  adds to the overall  positive tone of the documentary.  The documentary is extremely positive  from  Charlotte  perspective on her brothers disability. She  tells the audience   that everyone  has different  finger prints and  that her brother is   great just the way  he is.   John may have a speech delay but he able to articulate  his  disability as being UP Syndrome  instead of Down Syndome extremely loud and clear .

 The film also takes a brief  view on bulling.  This is where I think any kid   can  take something away from the movie. The film talks about  how bullying  hurts  even  if the Victor is disabled. It  gives kids   ideas  on how to deal with bullying and  how important it is to help  kids develop strategies  to stand up to those  mean kids.

  In conclusion I think Deedah  is a great movie. I wish it could have been longer.It  is 30 minutes  without bonus features) The songs are great and the kids are even better.  I think this type of video should be shown  in elementary schools   to help kids understand  Down Syndrome.   I would love to see more movies like Deedah  showing other  disabilities.  I think  movies like this have the potential  on how other kids  will view a child  with Down Syndrome.  After you see the movie there is  still the blog that  keeps you up to date about life after the documentary. I hope more movies  like Deedah  will be  made to show that all people with all types of disabilities  have more abilities then disabilities.

For She's a Jolly fellow

  Mom to AZ and AZ  Summer 2005 on their way to the Grand Canyon

 For she's a jolly good fellow that no body can deny.    Nope it is not Mother's day  yet  My mom got a new job at  work. to learn more   go here

That explains a lot

    The return  of   ms A    will be  in this  post.


    Some things I learned  about Wisconsin  while in her class
   All you need is Cheese 
    Badgers are  cool
      Cross country skiing   is  fun  way to  enjoy  the  snow in Wisconsin




   MS  A  was a great teacher.  She  was a  teacher  who  got  me and  was  willing to  help me.  She along with  Mr T  will  go down as the best  inclusive teachers  at my  high school. ( Or  in  ms.A  case   during the  year  I had her)  Since  having ms  A  I  have  always  thought since  having  her  four  years a go   that  Wisconsin had the  nicest people in America   and   after  four   years  of  waiting  I have   some  evidence to  support  my hypothesis.
    Here is the  evidence


   Now  if    could  make     my town   like  Madison in terms of   public  education





got  image  from

http://images.clipartof.com/small/16751-Clipart-Picture-Of-A-Wedge-Of-Orange-Swiss-Cheese-Mascot-Cartoon-Character-With-Welcoming-Open-Arms.jpg

Full Furstation

warning  this post contains a vent

  I  have the  hardest speech in my entire class.      Has been a statement   I   could have  said   from pre k to  senior year of  high school,without  frustration.  As  when  I  was  young    as long as  kids  played with  me (which they  did ) at recess, lunch or  free time.  As   I  entered  middle school ,   I     told myelg   that they  do not have a disability ( I  got  passed up in  speech class    and that was discouraging , but   not  to  bad)   and that lasted through  high school,  what also helped  was the  typical  kids who  could  understand  repeat things  to  the   teacher.

( Another reason  that inculsive  education has worked  for me)     But   as   I say it about  my current class  CDS 2010   my  Frustration level is  full.

I really like my first day picture of CDS 

The  thing is that  all of the students in the program  are young adults   with disabilities and   most of them   have been in SDC classes   in  high school.  I am  one  of the smartest   students  in the classes   and I  comprehend everything   that goes  on. It  should make  sense  since  I   understand everything that  I should  be able to express myself , but   that is not the case.  All the teachers   do not  understand me 100 percent  of the time and   it is  difficult   to   show them how  smart  and funny  I  really  am.   A good example  is  today  during   PE.

 We  were in the cycling   room and     coach  A (we had a  four coaches  today)  helps me and says  "AZ  you  make me feel   like     Cinderella," as he put my  foot through the  straps  on the bike pedals" Am  i the handsome  prince ."

 

 " No,"   I say You are the  ugaly troll. I have been  playing a lot  of  Lego  Harry  potter  on the Wii.

 

 The ugly   frog,"                                                   

"No   troll,"

  "Mole?"

 " No? " 

The other  kids  call out  but they do  not say   troll

  I got off  my bike and  wrote the  wrong spelling of  troll 

 I show  it to  coach B  "Troy,"

  

"No   troll

" Finally coach   got it." 

I walked  back  across campus  with  Coach  A and  we   talked about the  frustration i have about my speech during the classes in the class and he suggested  slowing down and   articulating.      Coach A  says that   he talks to fast and ask that we all  try to do our best and  slow down.    I can  do that but      it  still  does not  guaranteed that I will speak  smartly.  I   hate   speaking  stupidly I need more  ST   with a good speech therapist.

 got  pics  from  the flowing
 sign:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgXxe25XgWypThBwqhxbaBjYmL4LPZNaXX7EZRSEC3DrFAHg3FUrI3eKYBhJxuzfO5t_YfUcD3yKhq3Dq9eS94o63y6Vnl_Wh7zDQuBzkKHjy7f4HBsKSxJLs1gkylbIPhvtR_uA4LNDN/s400/Frustration.jpg

 troll http://i.clevver.com/photos/229747/130/98/lego-harry-potter-years-14-screenshots-of-year-1-vignette.jpg

It should not be a fight

    I have  seen and heard  Many stories about    parents  who  have to   fight  for there child  to be in   mainstream  and   after  reading such  accounts  I  wonder why  does  it have to be a fight   on there  part    to   let disabled  kids  go to inclusive  school.

My mom  came  to   my  kindergarten  class    when we had our career
  unit I am  sitting on    my  teachers lap   listening to what she does  in the
hospital

I  have always  been  included  since  kindergarten.  It was a no  brainier    for  my  parents  and the  two  school districts  because  I  have   normal    intelligence.      I would not trade      inclusion   for special  education,  (although  I must admit  I  wish  I had  more life skills when I graduated high school ) because I have  met so many wonderful  teachers, students and faculty as well as  being  apart   of   all of my school  communities.  I  have  so  Many great   memories   of     being in the  mainstream  and  going  on  field  trips  and  discovering     new  things.      I  just graduated   from  inclusive  high school  but  have  left behind   a club and lessons  that  others have  learned  from  me.

Ms P  (red)  was my sped teacher  all t
throughout high school here  i am  with her
 halloween 2009

  I have had   help and support   from special  education  teachers and staff  and have  participated in  ST     a  one  to  one aid  and  Work ability   while  being  able  to read    write and  learn  with  people  in my community, people who  live  near  me and     in my city    because  I have  been  in inclusive education

 Field trip  fun.

I   care so much about inclusion  because   Cerebral  Palsy   could  have    caused me  to  have a  intellectual disability  are be     so  disabled  that  the  best  place  for me   would have  been a separate  class  or  a special   needs  school.    I     care because  I  have  friends with   disabilities both online   and in  real life   who are not included . I   see   what  a shame it  is  that  other people will not have the chance  to get to know them.

Art work  2009   the teacher
used  to be a sped  teacher
  I  took  ceramics  during my Senior
year  of high school 

 I have  heard   from a  favorite  teacher of mine that    when  they taught at   another  school the kids with disabilities  were  there  but  they never  got to see  or talk to them.  The kids   missed  out   on getting  to  see   and talk  and  make a connection  with   the  person  who has been  a great   mentor and  friend to me.       The teacher  has been  working as teacher for  a while  but  I  was  their  first    student my   level  of  disability    it was not easy  but    like they  said    at the end of the  year   " Oh  the stories we could  tell"  and     I   am a character in  that story  along with  the  other students.(maybe   mine are the   annoying  and hard stories  but     hopefully there are some great ones of just me and  the whole class) I  have not heard  any  stories  yet from that class  but   I would buy the  book .........I  think.....  lol

 School is not the only  area that  inclusion
  should  apply to but to   all types of  recreation for
  peers of   similar ages. I played  soccer in AYSO    from pre k
 to  8th  grade every fall

 Inclusion     should  not be    so  hard because  unlike a driver's   test which should be  earned because the   result  of     it not  going  badly are deadly     inclusion  dose  not hurt anyone . In fact inclusion  benefits  everyone   involved the students  teacher s and school community.       In    all classes i have been  in  (AP   US history  include)   everyone isn't  at the same level  so why is it that    people  say it is  easier  not  to  have  kids with  intellectual  disabilities   at the  same   classrooms. With   mortifying  assignments    or    simplfilng  the  information     all kids would be able to learn better.  Inculsion   was not  a fight  for me  and should not be a fight for anyone  else.

A perfect example of Inculsion.

time 12:20 Augest 9 2010
place English classroom belonging to Mr T who is an general ed teacher a bunch of students inculcating AZ who has NVLD and CP making group work and public speaking hard for her to do.

Mr.T was talking to his students about Orthello and to start out the unit he was taking a abbreviated script for groups of three to act out. Mr.T knows how hard group work is for Az so he says that she is Director and has to find out the tone of the play. AZ loves the idea because he told her it is kinda like AP work( he also teaches to Senior AP- English) and she has always wanted to take. About ten minutes latter the class reconvines and he sits with AZ and togeter watch the play ( a actor who will remain nameless) got near the director but he moved back much to AZ's delight) Then Mr T asks AZ a question and she got it wrong but it dose not matter what matters is that Inclusion happened and she was one happy girl at lunchtime. Mr.T is genius





Why did it work: Mr .T knows that social stuff are hard for AZ & IT always ends in frustration of monopolizing the project. He also knows that Az loves a challenge and wishes that she was in AP. He put 2 together took the script and wrote tone on it in certain points for her to do while the others were practicing the same scene. He then helped check her work when she was done at his desks. The result is one happy well ran classroom and a kid who can grin and say that she was an director today and had fun doing a special job.
AZ 8-10-09

You have to see this movie

comes on tonight on hbo I can not wait !!!


now to set my dvr and do some homework


ugh homework well that is just one of the down sides of inculsive education.

Table for 12

  I know everyone heard of John and Kate plus 8 ether  from tabloids or  television and with that  ending    there is nothing  worth  watching  on TLC about a family     who has a lot of kids  age 13 and younger .. or  is there.

Meet The  Hayes   Betty and  Eric who have  ten kids  and  although they do not go  out that often,when they do they  get  a table for 12,  The  Hayes have   two set of twins and sextuplets  one of them  has  severe cerebral   palsy. If you are wondering why that sounds  familiar I have CP  as well.   You can  learn  more about the  hayes  by   watching this  clip  below.  

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Murphy's law : A disabled advocate's perspective

  Who ever said  Friday the 13 was  a bad luck day is  wrong . It is  Monday the 16 which  is also known as  today . Today I was suppose to have a Including Samuel party after school  with my disability awareness club. Well  all  seemed to start out well  but then  it  happened  the school had  a black out second period.   I   started to worry,    By the end of third  period things were looking worse the power to the whole school  was  off.  (In my second period the lights were on but the computers were off)  so  during fifth period  administration  told us to go home .    In our school once kids leave they normally do not come back,  (it was rumored that PGE  were going to get the  lights  by two. )     So   I am not  feeling so well but I am hoping  we will host  the movie  soon.

There is hope

One thing before I start. My back is spasming so any prayers for a quick recovery will be much appreciated.

Last Saturday was the Special Olympics play day. I love this day. It is for preschooler with special needs. There is basketball, bowling, dancing, biking, running, arts and crafts, parachutes and golf.

If anyone has not heard today golf became a Olympic sport. Golf is one of my favorite sports. I have played golf for the local Special Olympics and for my high school for the past three years. I love playing golf for my school. GO is really great guy he gets it. He is a former special education teacher who believes in inclusion. GO has let me play on the practice team and although I have never played a match I get to play on the course. He sometimes pushes me hard to do things I do not want to do. (More on this latter)He lets me be on the team. I may not play in the match however I have a uniform and am involved in all the fundraising and it means a lot to me . I love golf I may not be the best but I like it all the same.

So as I watched the little kids with disabilities play mini golf . There is that glimmer of hope for inclusion on a golf team in high school . The kid may only be on the prat ice team like I have been,but the kid will earn a spot through hard work. Like I am trying to do on Tuesday rain or shine. Although sun will be better. No matter if I play or not there will still be hope for the little kids because of GO. It is amazing how one person can give a glimmer of hope.

what happends if people with disablities are given a chancee

all three of these young men need to start a foundation because not all disabled athletes are not as lucky. These coaches took a chance and that means a lot. I hope this trend can spreed across the world this is inclusion at it finest

A great song with even better pictures

this relates to the post below. My favorite pic is the transition from MLK to Obama. We watched a movie not to long a go about Steven harking. He can only talk with a computer but he is so smart. He is a perfect example of do not judge a book by it's cover.