In the Spirit of Giving

As the winter holidays approach, my mind starts thinking about giving to others and how I can impact the lives of others. I teach my students academically, strategies to deal with their own disability and issues, how to socialize with others, communication skills, and try to meet their emotional needs. I do give back everyday to my students and hopefully their parents. So many of my students have other therapists that work with them and try and help them as well. Their parents, more than anyone else, give up so much so that their children can have everything that they need to be successful and have their needs met. I watch all of my students being given so much because their needs are so great....however, I have have started to wonder why we don't teach them to also give back to others. Doesn't it feel great to give to others and doesn't it empower you as a person to give to others? Why shouldn't we empower our students, including those students with needs, to give back to others in need so that they can also feel valued. Isn't it a great lesson to our children that they feel like CAN and SHOULD help others. Sometimes children that require a lot of support and assistance don't realize how much is being given and done for them so that they can get all of the help that they need. They don't see the sacrifices that their parents and teachers/therapists make to ensure that their needs are met. I think by teaching our children to give back to others, it may make them realize what has been done for them and appreciate it more. It also gives them a chance to feel as if they can impact someone else's life and feel empowered at the same time.

Seeing all of the possibilities that a child possesses.

It is amazing to see the difference in our students now that they are in the right place and in an environment that understands them and takes their individuality into consideration. As a teacher, parent, student, or as part of a community, take a moment to seek to understand before passing judgement. Often times we pass quick judgements without taking a moment to fully understand the person. Our students were children that many people have given up on because they didn't take the time to get to know who they are, understand them, and realize the special qualities that made them who they are. They were looked at as a disability instead of as a child. When we look at neurotypical children we see the potential and possibilities. We should do the same thing with children with disabilities. They also have potential and possibilities. Their disability doesn't define them. Who they are as a person defines them. Take a moment today and look at the people around you without judgment. Talk to them. Take a moment to see who that person is and think about what makes that person special. You may be surprised by what you see in them and in yourself.

Why do we lower our expectations for students with special needs?

So many of us lower our expectations when we see, teach, or interact with a child with special needs. Is that really helping them or is it hindering them? If they learn that people don't expect much out of them, why will they strive to be the best that they can be? I see it so often with students with autism, learning disabled, ADHD, and other disorders. Just because these children have a disability that may make their lives more challenging, doesn't mean that they aren't capable of same things that a neurotypical child would be capable of doing. It may look a little different or their path may be different, but they CAN do it. Making excuses, feeling sorry, or allowing a disability to run the child (rather than looking at the CHILD first) only hinders the child and makes them feel as if they CAN'T do anything for themselves and that they aren't worth much. Is that the message that we want to send? Sit back and think about that for a moment. The next time that you interact with a child (or an adult) with a disability, think about the way that you perceive them, interact with them, and the expectations that you have. Really stop and look at the child and get to know them. Help them achieve, be successful, and understand their own abilities and strengths. You might be surprised by how capable they are and how similar they are to you.