So yesterday I talked about my friend KB, KB is my good friend from my private school;however, it is lucky that we are still friends,but more on that later.
These past month , I have heard troubling news from three mothers . One parent had pulled her child out of school, another was told despite progress ,he had to switch schools. Another school ,of faith mind you , rejected her child.
These three children resides in the United States. These three children are missing out on a good education. Why? Because these three children have Down Syndrome.
When schools deny students with disabilities they undoubtedly miss out on inclusive education;however , they aren't the only ones who miss out.
GENERAL EDUCATION TEACHERS
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Inclusion makes Everyone happy. The women
on the left was my 9th grade PE Teacher. Picture is from
Senior year Winter 2010. My mother had to advocate
for me when I was in this class freshman year;however
by senior year I was able to be ball manager for the
Laddies Varsity team. Took her three years before I was
able to show her the power of inclusion. More on PE
later this month. |
General Education teachers miss out on an opportunity to know and teach a student with disabilities.
They miss out on learning new ways of reaching all learners. They miss out on becoming better teachers and celebrating those little moments that to general education students don't realize;however, when student with significant disabilities does them they realize Just how big these little moments are. They miss out on sharing there knowledge with kids. They miss out of approaching things in a new way. They miss out on all of this because the district , or administrator
GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENTS
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Me and a friend from high school playing golf spring 2015 For more
on this Click Here |
Students without disabilities miss out on knowing a person with a disability. These guys miss out at knowing at a formative age that disability is a part of diversity. These kids miss out on learning about an unique person. So often Biology text books talk about Down Syndrome or other disabilities, however, how cool would it be if instead of learning about this abstract concept they learned from hands on experience of talking, playing, dancing with a person with Down Syndrome. How empowering would it be if working with students with disabilities taught them the abilities that we do posses, yes we do have them. If these kids grow up and become adults that have children and they receive the news that their baby or toddler, depending on the diagnosis, has a significant disability perhaps they will not be so fearful and chose life. Perhaps these students become doctors and will be able to treat new parents and patients with disabilities with respect.
So about KB. Well when I was kicked out two times at school. I saw him and all my friends from the private school less often. He admitted to me that it was hard to hang out because he was busy with school. As bad as the private school was I am thankful that I went because I made some lifelong friends. But we all missed out because I was not included.
The biggest fear I have at work is that a customer will call me the r word. You may be wondering why I have that fear since I do not have an intellectual disability.
