Out of my Mind

 

Every year I try to read 5 of the bluebonnet nominees so I can vote with the kiddos at school. I think it is important for them to see their teachers reading. So, I am reading Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper. Colleen Hicks said that all techers should be required to read this and I agree. But I also think that everyone should read it. Children AND adults with disabilities are still people. They have feelings and just because they don't speak or look "cute or groomed" doesn't mean they deserve any less love or compassion. I use to be a special education teacher and loved every minute of it. It was never a dull moment. It was hard. So many days go by and the "light switch" never comes on. But then that one magical day...there are no words to express how you feel. Parents come in and cry because of the things that their child is doing in the classroom that they didn't know they could do. And in your head you think, "Really, you're excited about this? THis isn't on their IEP?" You never know what a difference you make. As I am typing this I think of some of those kiddos that I dreaded having in my class. Not because they were not "cute" or "well groomed", but because of how difficult they could be. I am being reminded that they may scream or "act out" because they don't like something and they don't have the words to tell you. So the next time you are around a child, or an adult, that has special needs ask them their name, ask them how are they doing, treat them like a human being. You never know what they understand. You will never know how much that means to that child and maybe more importantly their parent.