I was waiting for a class to start at my local community centre when I saw a small sign tacked to the director’s door. It just said ‘Listen to children’. It was so direct and simple – it stopped me short. As a teacher, I usually do all the talking and even when I pause… Continue reading Listen to children
I’ve decided that one size does NOT fit all. Since we are unique individuals, communities and countries, it doesn’t favour us to think that something that works for someone else will work the same for us. That goes for therapies, educational programmes, and social services. I encourage everyone to think waaaaay outside the box, because… Continue reading Different is good
My motto used to be ‘It could be worse’. Truly, it helped to put things into perspective, and when I imagined a pretty ugly situation being even worse, it managed to crack the seriousness of the situation just an incy bit. And when something cracks, light can shine through. When my son unearthed all the… Continue reading “Every human being has an impact on another.” Patch Adams
People are human. All of us, every last one, teacher, student, administrator, bureaucrat, parent, politician, all with wonderful quirks and forgivable faults. It does not help to play the blame game when we are in it together. The enemy is ignorance and apathy, not the government, not the parent, and certainly not the child. We… Continue reading Cooperation versus complaining
‘Carrie’ was incredible with Jack. She was a steadfast, no-nonsense friend who saw him for what he was, a boy and fellow classmate, someone who was on the go like she was. Carrie was athletic and centred. She had heaps of brothers and sisters, and the care giving role came natural to her, but she… Continue reading Friends
Sadly, even if kids with special needs are attending their neighbourhood schools, there are many isolating situations within the school environment. Though well-meaning, a teacher aide can come between their student and his or her world. I have seen teacher aides glued to their side, inadvertently preventing them from making friends naturally. Teacher aides have… Continue reading Belonging
I watched the documentary Autism: The Musical last week and I was so moved. The director, Tricia Regan, follows five children with autism and their families for six months, and turns out a movie that goes right to the heart of what is possible, but coupled with the heartbreaking day-to-day realities of parenting kids with… Continue reading Autism: The Musical
To be a part of, to have membership, to have a place. Inclusion means acceptance. That everyone has value. Children with special needs have the right to be included with their peers in public schools, but it goes beyond that. Inclusion erases the line that divides us. The kids on the fringe can come in.… Continue reading Inclusion
Parents and teachers fight hard to get teacher aide time for their children with special needs. A full classroom is a busy, busy place, and a teacher aide can make a huge difference for a child’s learning. This is especially true for children who are barely coping with the classroom routine, subject material they are… Continue reading Teacher aides taking a step back
