COMIC STRIP
A Day in the Life of a PWD (Person With a Disability)
Frame 1:
A man in a wheelchair is sitting at a computer table in a classroom.
A woman enters.
WOMAN: Oops, I think you're in the wrong room. Special Education is at the end of the hall.
Frame 2:
MAN: Actually, I'm the new Math teacher.
COMIC STRIP
A Day in the Life of a PWD
Frame 1:
A man in a wheelchair is working at a computer on a table in a classroom.
A woman approaches him.
WOMAN: Oops, I think you're in the wrong room. Special Education is at the end of the hall.
Frame 2:
MAN: Actually, I'm the new Math teacher.
Hey everyone hope your doing well with the current state of the world right now. I am currently in college for speech pathology. We have a lot of lectures and take plenty of notes. I am an auditory and visual learner and I have noticed the benefit of using captions and transcription for video. I have not found any apps that are truly free and allow recording and transcription. #Disability #LearningDisabilities #Accessibility #Accommodations #SpecialEducation #College #University #CerebralPalsy #MentalHealth #ChronicIllness
So tomorrow is it’s something that I’m aware of everyday not just tomorrow literally every single day! Somedays I wish with everything I have it would go away. The stares from strangers, the ignorance of people, the inaccessibility of the world, watching love ones surpass you in life with things like jobs, relationships independence in general and just having to wait longer, fight harder and scream to be heard and taken seriously for things able bodied people do not. Not just to advocate for yourself but to try to prove you know what you need to for job or whatever the situation may be. Instead of focusing on what you need to you focus on what the people will assume based on your 300 pounds of metal stuck to you ( wheelchair) and preconceived thoughts, trying to break those first and setting the record straight. It’s annoying, it never leaves, it’s always there. Muscle spasms, body twitches, a startle reflex that is so strong it’s crazy! So yeah I’m aware. If you asked me if i wanted to be wanted to be society’s version of whatever “normal” depending on the day I’d probably say “obviously duhh” but that’s rare, cerebral palsy has shaped me into the person I am and it gives me a prospective that most people would never know in the world of special education, the career path I’ve chosen and feel called to pursue! I refuse Cerebral palsy to control my life or “win” it’s part of me on purpose but not all of me! It’s brought people and opportunity to myself i couldn’t imagine having any other way without Cp It’s a blessing of understanding, trial and error, resourcefulness and problem solving as well as patients and drive to be the most independent person I can be. I’m thankful for the people in my life that make me feel normal and see me for me And not a diagnosis And for the amazing kiddos I’ve been able to impact along the way in a very special unique environment Honestly if I had to change one thing it would be for me to walk into a special ed classroom and for teachers are not make the assumption that I’m going to get hurt or that I can’t do it I’ve made special education my purpose for a reason and I shouldn’t have to fight as hard for it as I do. Or I guess not assume anything in general, don’t assume that I can or cannot do something. If I need or want help I will ask for let me try first let me tell you what my limits are don’t limit me!!
An open letter to the mum, dad or caregiver at 1st day of school drop off,
I have been waiting for this day for a long time, the day I finally get to meet your child. Today I get to see your child in their classroom and begin a journey for the next academic year. I know you are concerned about how today will go, this week, this month, this year as a whole. For now let’s focus on today. Today I meet your child.
I am a 1-1 support for children who have Autism. I am dedicated, I am passionate and I will never be able to do another job because this job is who I am. I am privileged to go on a journey with these children, to see them grow throughout the year, to stand alongside them as they face challenges, be their cheerleader when they succeed and their motivator when they don’t.
The first day of school is my favourite. I get to meet your child. I get to start their journey with them. It may be a quiet start, a loud start, a fast paced or slower start. It could be a great start full of achievements, it could be a more challenging start. However the day goes, it is the start. I will go home with a head full of ideas and a heart full of determination. I will look forward to the second day of school.
My promise to you is that I will do my best to support your child through this year. I will do my best to inspire them in their learning. I will do my best to comfort them when they are anxious or upset. I will allow them to grow in their own ways and I will always be vigilant for any type of success. I will also push your child. With me they will be told consistently that they are capable, intelligent children who can succeed in school.
I have spent summer making resources that may never get used. Designing lesson plans that may never get used. They may help your child. They may not. It doesn’t matter because one day there will be a child who uses them. If they don’t fit for your child, I will make different resources, ones that work for them. And I will love doing so as I know this builds trust. One day you child will trust me to help others see how wonderful they are.
I will never know the feelings you are going through on this, the first morning of the school year. But I know what I am feeling, determined that I will be here for your child, for you, for the school, in order to enable your child to thrive this year. Please know that I am here today, and will be tomorrow, regardless of how the day goes. This job isn’t easy but I am acutely aware that when days are are difficult for me, they are much more difficult for your child. I am dedicated to being here each morning, ready to start the day with you both.
I have been waiting for this day for a long time, I will greet you at the door with a smile and a hug ready for day number 1. #specialneedsteacher #autismteacher
#SpecialEducators #SpecialEducation
I teach special education in a self contained setting. My job is truly my passion. I not only love what I do, but I LOVE my students. I spend 9-3:30 with them Monday through Friday and there are very few things I won’t do for them. Advocating and being their voice is one of those things I do for them.
My school is in a suburb of Chicago. We had planned a community trip to the pumpkin patch on Halloween, but the weather did not allow for that. My heart broke thinking about how sad my students would be. I decided to switch some things around and go to McDonalds instead. At McDonald’s the students work on skills we teach in the classroom. Some examples would be ordering food, waiting in line, and parking lot safety.
When we got to McDonalds the manager was so rude and told us that if we wanted to come eat there we should have called and asked them. Side note- there was one other person in the restaurant. He then rudely told us that if they wanted kids meals it would take them at least 45 minutes. Again side note- I had ten kids. It’s McDonalds- shouldn’t they be able to accommodate 10 kids meals without making children feel bad for showing up?
The man continued to be rude not only to us, by also to the other employees. I was in shock.
If you have a child with autism or work with children with autism you know that letting them play in the play land and then trying to explain that they have to come sit and eat after would be near impossible. We spent our entire time waiting for them to make kids meals. I felt awful and the kids trip was ruined. Not to mention they over charged most of the children for extra drinks.
I contacted McDonalds many times. I kept being told someone would call me back. The only person to call me back told me she was sorry for my ‘perception’ of what happened. I am sick to my stomach that a company so large and well known is okay with this treatment. I still have yet to hear from McDonalds or at least anyone that actually feels that this behavior isn’t okay. Please share in hopes that someone from McDonalds cares and helps raise awareness.
#McDonalds #Autism #Autism #AutismAdvocacy #SpecialEducators #SpecialEducation #SpecialNeedsFamilies #SpecialNeedsParent #SpecialNeedsPrograms #SpecialNeedsCommunity #Disability #RespectAbility #HunterSyndrome #GeneticDisorder #InclusionAndSpecialNeeds #BeKind21 #ParentsOfChildrenWithSpecialNeeds #DisabilityAdvocacy #IntellectualDisability #Teachers
It's ADHD awareness month and story-telling is our challenge, so I'm going to tell an important part of my story with ADHD.
I went to private school and there wasn't really any #SpecialEducation . There was, however, the "Resource Room" where some kids with disabilities could get extra help. In high school, I was one of those kids. I would spend a portion of my study hall getting organizational help from the Resource Teacher.
This was humiliating for me. If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be that getting help is nothing to be ashamed of. That being different is nothing to be ashamed of. But back then I was a proud teenager. Being different and needing help seemed like the worst two things in the world to me at that time.
I would lie to people about why I was late to my study hall. I didn't even tell my closest friends I went to the Resource Room.
Until one day I saw my best friend in the hall and she questioned why I was going the direction I was, given my study hall was the other way.
I couldn't lie to her. I couldn't lie to my best friend. So I told her I was going to see the resource teacher.
I immediately jumped to my own defense, thinking she would look down on me.
"Everyone needs help sometimes!" I caught myself blurting out.
To my surprise (and relief) my friend agreed and said she was glad I was getting support.
If I had been thinking, I would have known she would have been supportive. She always was. But my doubts weren't about her. They were about me. I saw myself as less than, so I had thought she would too.
I thought about what I had blurted out at her, "everyone needs help sometimes." I realized that that really was true. Everyone does need help sometimes. Sometimes I need more help.
And that's nothing to be ashamed of.
My brother has ADD (not ADHD, the two are legally considered two different things) and epilepsy, and he’s in 2nd grade and is testing at a kindergarten/early 1st grade level. My mom has been trying to get him on the IEP plan (he’s currently on the 504, but it isn’t enough) for the past 2 years, but he ‘doesn’t meet the criteria’ (by like 5 points). The only disability he’s listed under is epilepsy, but it might help to add ADD. I researched a little bit and the criteria lists ADHD for an IEP, but talks about /ADD in some of the extra descriptions. So does IEP cover ADD or not? #ADD #ADHD #iep #Section504 #SpecialEducators #SpecialEducation
My name is Marta Brain, I have two special needs children on the Autism Spectrum, and I am one of four Moms that formed the Facebook Group, Parents for CCISD Special Education Reform, in efforts to affect positive change in Special Education in Clear Creek ISD in Texas and create meaningful reform.
In violation of Texas state law, CCISD has placed children in isolation rooms. Staff shut doors to isolation rooms, and hold mats to cover openings to prevent students from leaving as well as to block their line of sight. Kids are often placed in these isolation rooms for cycles of time daily and this is practiced on multiple campuses
.
Children are reported by parents and staff to have been physically or emotionally harmed while in CCISD. Many kids from multiple campuses have come home with unexplained and undocumented bruises. Last year a child eloped off campus and the school was unaware it happened. One child was placed on the bus soaked in urine and feces. Staff has admitted to emotional abuse, such as “I’d like to take you and throw you up against the wall!”
In violation of IDEA (special education federal law) multiple students were disciplined for behavior due to their disability. SPED students are disproportionately disciplined. In 2016 SPED kids made up 9.6% of the District population yet 33% of expulsions, 27% out of school suspensions and 22% in school suspensions.
Sped staff are overworked and understaffed and not given necessary training or resources. They are also frequently not provided a duty free lunch or conference period which is in violation of Texas state law.
There is an adversarial culture against parents. The District spent over $900,000 on expensive attorneys in 5 years to fight the families’ requests for help and services. It would have been significantly cheaper to provide the help the students require. Intimidation, retaliation and aggressive tactics are used against parents. There is a higher withdrawal rate of SPED kids. In 2016 9.6% SPED kids were withdrawn as opposed to 7.7% Gen Ed kids. Students are not challenged academically, show little growth, or even have proven regression after entering CCISD. In this District the CCISD SPED ratio is only 9.6%, however, the national average is 13%.
Clearly all of the data and evidence shows CCISD Special Education requires an immediate need for reform. It is our goal that ALL kids are safe and receive a quality education. We hope to affect positive change and create a culture of collaboration and transparency among teachers, staff, admin and parents.
#AutismSpectrumDisorder #SpecialEducation
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