So, in the Child Studies class that I teach at Post University, we are discussing DAP (Developmentally Appropriate Practices) and NAEYC in ECE. So, naturally, this week's Discussion Board brought us to the topic of Inclusion. I always like to bring into my classroom as much anecdotal information as I can. So I shared with them about a young boy who changed me for the better.
The young boy was placed in my 2nd Grade Classroom for socialization purposes. This young boy had Autism and went to another school that was better equipped to give him the specialized instruction that was needed. However, as we all know, the socialization piece of school can be as important as the instruction piece. So, twice a week he joined us in Room 24. He was an amazing young man and I felt honored that his care was entrusted to my students and me!
Sadly, it is oftentimes human nature to distance ourselves from someone who is greatly different than us. My students were now challenged to expand their breadth of understanding and compassion for a boy who at first seemed very different from them. However, instead of our 2nd graders looking at our new classmate, Drew, with uncertainty and discomfort, he became our friend. It gave us all a connection with someone who had greater challenges than we did. His inclusion into our classroom benefited us and much as it benefited him. By the time a month had passed, we could actually point out more similarities than differences between each of us. He was taken under our wing not for what he had, but for who he was ~ a smart, brave and friendly young man!
I believe that it is easy to dislike or fear that which we do not understand! On the flip side, it is also very hard to fear or dislike that which we do understand. Familiarity can breed compassion and empathy. He quickly became 'one of us' and we all looked out for him... not just me! It was heart-warming; I was so proud of my students!
It was obvious that Drew felt he was a part of our classroom as well. I was especially proud of him, though. He was a warrior! It was he that took on the bigger challenge, well out of his normal routine and comfort zone. So, his was the biggest accomplishment.
Labels are over-generalizations that inaccurately confine and define a person ! So, we were careful not to label Drew. We saw him not as 'the autistic boy', but as the 'boy who had autism'. Some might think that we are just dealing with a case of semantics, but it couldn't be farther from the truth! Little changes can make the biggest differences. I will repeat this: We never said that he was autistic... because that would have been inaccurate. We said that he had autism.
If you think about it, we are often careless in our descriptions and labels. One little word can make a huge difference in the how we view someone. We say that someone is autistic, is mentally challenged or is physically challenged. However, in reality, these children 'have' autism, 'have' mental challenges and 'have' physical challenges. The difference in this wording is that it shows that heir challenge does not define them. It would be like the difference between stating that 'he is cancer' or 'he has cancer'.
Just because someone has a challenge, doesn't mean they should be defined by that challenge. We have the choice to choose that which defines us! We all wear many hats. We are artists, athletes, interpersonal wizards, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, students, etc, etc, etc! We all also have many weights holding us back from finding our greatness ~ time, talent, resources, abilities, problems, lack of self esteem, etc, etc, etc. However, I say we focus on the many hats that we wear and not the weights that hold us back.
Time for you to share:
There are many simple changes that allow us to create significant differences in how we define ourselves (and others) so we can excel in our complicated world.
What simple change have you made that has had a positive impact on either your life or the lives of those you love?
Thanks for reading!!!
Cindy Gagne Teixeira
Just like you, I wear many hats. I'm a mom, a teacher, a friend, a daughter, a sister, and a writer. I choose to laugh (and talk... and write) about my problems because crying takes too much time.