"You can't blend in when you were born to stand out"
Behind My Work: I titled this project “Different Not Less,” because I feel like this is a great representation of everything I have learned from this course. Our abilities and disabilities do not make us any less than each other- only different, and I believe there is real beauty in diversity. In my project, I included my three favorite quotes: “Inclusion is within everyone’s ability,” “Know me for my abilities not my disability” and “Let me win, but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt.” I also included three people that played a prominent role in helping me understand the beauty of their exceptionalities: Rosemary Kennedy, Temple Grandin, and Auggie from Wonder. I also included a collage of some amazing people from my life. I have had the pleasure of working with all sorts of programs that are structured around the celebration of abilities such as Best Buddies, Champions Together and Special Olympics. I have had the opportunity to work with and love on a multitude of athletes and buddies throughout my life as well as my cousin with down syndrome. These people all hold a special place in my heart and have played an extremely influential role in shaping how I view disabilities- I hope they would label me loving. Lastly, I included a picture of a brain full of flowers. The inclusion of this picture serves as a symbolization of all of my “takeaways” from this class; mainly, the fact that we all have very diverse yet beautiful minds. Each one of these pieces that I included in my final project played an influential role in the way that I view disabilities and value inclusion- a tool that I believe we can use to change the world.
What I Learned About the Beauty of Students with Exceptionalities: -Coming into this class, I had prior experience with children with special needs. I have worked with Best Buddies, Champions Together and Special Olympics and have also grown up alongside my cousin, Elijah who has Down Syndrome. Prior to this class, I always recognized the beauty in their exceptionalities. However, what I did not fully realize is that not everyone does. This class made me open my eyes to a society that still has a long way to go in terms of inclusion. -The first book that I read was The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. From this novel, I was introduced to Christopher Boon who was a teenager with Asperger’s syndrome. This whole story is centered around his need to figure out who killed Wellington, which inspired him to write a “detective story.” Throughout this book, Christopher realized that his talents lead to a great deal of potential for him and his future. This book taught me about the importance of acceptance and really honed in on the “know me for my abilities, not my disability” quote. Christopher was so known for his Aspergers that people around him discredited the incredible abilities that he did have- such as his remarkable gift for math. -Next, I read Wonder and in this book, I met Auggie Pullman. Auggie was born with a facial deformity that has made it difficult for him to attend school/make friends. Yet, despite the adversity that Auggie faced, he overcame and became the hero no one expected. This novel taught me that the important role that educators and peers play in the lives of students with exceptionalities. They have a chance to make a real difference in the lives of these students and they are able to set the precedent of inclusion for them in all settings. Auggie’s struggle of fitting in throughout his first year of school inspired my “inclusion is within everyone’s ability” quote in my project; I believe that everyone is capable of inclusion and I am hoping we can make it the new normal. The adversity and judgment that Auggie faced sparked a change in his school, where his classmates pledged to change their attitudes. Finally, he is accepted and loved for exactly who he is and his courage/perseverance caused him to be named the school hero! -Lastly, I learned about the important role that families play in these students lives. Temple Grandin, a young lady with autism was lucky enough to have an extremely supportive mother and aunt who pushed for inclusion in whatever situation she was placed in. They fought for her dreams and encouraged her to pursue her passions! On the other hand, in Fully Alive, I was able to see the struggle that a lot of families face with their children with exceptionalities. Rosemary Kennedy was nothing short of a gift to this family but it took time for them and those around them to realize this. Fully Alive introduced me to the origins of the Special Olympic games, a program that has a special place in my heart. This inspired the inclusion of the quote, “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” This program allows these athletes to truly shine. Both of these people taught me the importance of fighting for one another’s dreams and to never hide who you are because everyone is a gift. -The connection that I made between all of these readings and the stories that I heard throughout them was the importance of inclusion. I learned that each of these special people were different, but certainly not any less than one another.
COE Mission/Vision: The COE Mission/Vision reads “[Students] are challenged to examine their assumptions about other people, how children from diverse experiences learn and reflect on the responsibilities of innovative educators.” At surface-level, I understood and respected this particular vision of the COE at Butler. However, after taking this course and discovering more about the responsibilities that we have as innovative educators, I realized how much I still had to learn. After reading more about the personal stories of students with exceptionalities, I realized how crucial my role as an educator was. I have the chance to change their lives and the lives of those around them. In my future classroom, I hope to not only be labeled loving but also be labeled inclusive. I want to appreciate diversity and know my exceptional students for their abilities, rather than their disabilities. A quote that I hope to keep at the center of my classroom is one that I learned from Auggie Pullman in Wonder: ”You are not able to blend in when you were born to stand out.”