Extended Comments

For this I will be using Kaela's Blog

"She's really doing well. People come to her for advice on what movies to get, on what's good, what's current. She knows it all. She's doing really well." Beginning with the simple act of listening, Shayne created not only a valued community role for Anne but one that the young woman relished."

I think Shayne did such an amazing job with the situation with Anne. People often forget that even though a person has down syndrome they still have aspiring dreams just like you and me. She took the time to get to know Anne as a person looking past her disability and helped find a job that would make Anne happy. Like Shayne said, it might not be Hollywood but its a lot closer to something she enjoys.

I completely agree that Shayne did something great there. I often feel people are often just clumped together because of certain aspects, instead of listening to the person and trying to accomodate  the individual. This whole text was about working with someone on an individual level and not just labeling them as a certain way.

"To value another is to recognize diversity as the norm. It establishes the equal worth of all school children, a sense that we all benefit from each other, and the fundamental right of every student to belong."

Van der Klift and Klunc hit it right on the nose with this quote. If you are going to be a teacher or any decent human being you have to realize that diversity is what makes us special. Being different is what makes learning and living fun. Once you accept that, the possibilities to learn and to teach will be endless. 

I completely agree and had addressed this in my observation of your last quote. The individual part of us is the unique and most important and what makes us, us. And since everyone is different, we need to recognize this in everything we do. Not every student will learn the same way, and not every student has the same thoughts or mindlessness that traditional schooling seems to assume and assert in today's society.

"Lee is, in a sense, in a way he's branded. People see him. They see Down syndrome. They see mental challenge, retardation, whatever you want to call it. That's what they see, but they wouldn't be seeing him. Do you know what I mean? Because Lee is Lee, and anybody who knows Lee knows, and this includes all the kids, they know he's gifted-in how he solves problems, cares about others, reads, loves math. So I guess what I'm arguing is that if you did pick Lee out, you wouldn't be seeing Lee. It's not Lee you're picking out. It's your stereotype, your mind-set. It's you, and it has nothing to do with Lee. But if that's how you choose to see him, I don't know that anything I could do, we could do, I don't think there's anything Lee could do to change your mind."

Reading this part made me think of the saying "Don't judge a book by it's cover". Yes on the outside Lee would be very easy to pick out in a crowd and he might not do everything the same as other "normal" children but he is smart. He learns and speaks and tells stories in his own way and if you try to get to know him or any child with a disability you will find their strengths. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses and some may be be easier to point out but that will never take away what they do know. People should focus on the good, not the bad.  

And for a third time I agree with your point. At my work there are a number of kids with down syndrome, but mostly low on the scale. Still, those kids often do their own thing and I find myself most often the one to ask them about what they are doing and think the way they are thinking. One for example likes to lick everything around at least once, such as doorknobs or staff. Last night there was someone from the state running a training at my organization and i found myself trying to use the interests he has to appeal to him so he would stay away from where our guests were. It was a little comical due to his short attention span and adventurous mind, but I would never think of it as a burden or try to oppress his curiousness and individuality.

I loved reading this article. The way students with disabilities are treated is one of the many reasons why I want to work with kids with disabilities. I want to be a teacher like Shayne and Colleen and help others find the good in all children. I want to figure out which ways of teaching works for the children so they can become the best they can, without being judged. I will probably definitely hold on to this article for future reference to look back on. 

I also found this article to be quite interesting and enjoyable to read. I was laughing through most of it because I know may kids like this and I was thinking about some of the things that only they would do and how I would not change any of their behaviors for anything because these kids would not be the same kids if they did not have those features.

Also, exploring Kaela's link for the National Advocate for People With Down Syndrome, I found this intersting resource for expecting parents. Very interesting and pleasing that there are resources like this out there Expectant Parents