How Reagan Changed My Life

I have personally used labels when referring to students with a disability, and know that is something we, as educators, should be at the forefront to dissipate. Many of us have used phrases like “the girl with Down syndrome,” or “the autistic boy,” but when we do that we are labeling that person has something wrong with them, or that they are largely different that other people. Jennie Fenton likened that thinking process as asking someone “When did you find out you were bald? What is is like being bald? Do you have problems getting a job? Do you live at your parents’ house, or do you live in a home for the bald?” (TEDTalks, 2014). This thought process resonated greatly within me. I would never think to ask these questions or even feel the need to ask them to a person whom has less hair than someone else. So, why would I think or treat someone with a disability differently, or even believe they should be segregated or excluded from every aspect life has to

In her essay “On Being a Cripple”, Nancy Mairs presents her audience with an honest inside view of her life and perspective as a cripple, a word she openly uses to define herself. She brings her world to us by discussing a wide variety of things including language, family, and humor, and how these all relate to her life. Through various stories and insights, she allows her readers to gain an understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities. She examines the public’s view of the disabled, as well as the views they have of themselves, and compares them to her own. She makes it clear that she is not to be defined solely by her disability. In discussing honestly her views, as well as

Ronald Reagan is to this date the oldest serving president, and the effects of his presidency have affected not only the United States of America but most of the world as well. The consensus among historians is that Ronald Reagan left a lasting legacy that was a great one in numerous ways. His Reaganomics improved America’s economy greatly, and secured its future economic prosperity. He also fought communism head on and was able to end it in most parts of the world, but more importantly in Soviet Russia. However, in doing so he got wrapped up in the Iran-Contra Affair, which will forever be tied to his name in a negative regard. Within America, Reagan was able to improve society such as his success in curbing the use of illegal drugs.

Reagan had a strong vision for the American future and believed that through hard work, patriotism, and the Lord, we could say “it’s the morning again in America”.14 Reagan stated in his inaugural speech “It is time for us to realize that we’re too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams. We have every right to dream heroic dreams, those who say that we’re in a time when there are no heroes; they just don’t know where to look”. Reagan has inspired countless people with his charm, humility, faith, ability to lead, and clear thinking but he was first and foremost, proud to be an

Down syndrome occurs in people who were born with three, rather than two, copies of the 21st chromosome. This extra genetic material is what brings about the effects of Down’s syndrome. It is often characterized by an impairment of cognitive (process of thought) ability. Most people with Down syndrome have lower than average, mild to moderate, cognitive ability and this cannot be predicted at birth. A smaller number fall into the severe impairment range. Physically, people with Down’s syndrome are smaller in stature, have less muscle tone, and have noticeably different facial features. The number of these births occurs approximately in one out of every one thousand (ndss.org). As of 2007, the number of people in the United States with Down syndrome stood at about 350,000. These numbers will shrink because now (most) potential parents can know the condition of the fetus early. This information is included to let the reader relate to the struggles that some with Down syndrome goes through.

Reagan works through college to able to attend and while at Eureka College, Reagan has his first personal taste of both politics and acting.

Over many years, many presidents have come and gone. All of them typically have done something to “define” them or something that makes them different or to stand out from all the others. But Ronald Reagan was different. His impact was possibly the most controversial of them all. Some argue that many of the problems in the world today have been caused by him.

Ronald Regan brought nothing but hope into America when it was needed the most. He led the great comeback. He made something impossible look so easy. He made everyone who doubting him rethink their statement. Reagan inspired America. On that day he kicked off his campaign, and throughout his presidency, he challenged us to lift our sights. He assured us that every American is created with the rights to life and liberty. Our dream is coming alive in our minds and hearts in unique and wonderful ways. When Reagan said, “We are Americans!” it was his voice that proved to the people that this land was ours and nobody could take away our dream for this great land. That is why he was so determined to knock down barriers that prevented individuals from reaching their dreams, and America from achieving greatness.

Even with this affliction, Reagan’s parents showed their two boys the value of fairness and qualities of discipline, faith, generosity, fairness, and tolerance, which Reagan would later use as president of the United States (Orr 27). At the age of nine years old, the Reagan family settled down in Dixon, Illinois (Boyarsky 164). When Reagan was a boy, he enjoyed drawing cartoons and reading numerous books (Orr 21). Watching Tom Mix, his favorite movie actor, was another passion Reagan carried with him while growing up (Orr 22). Reagan became a freshman at Dixon Northside High School in 1924 (Orr 26). This high school was concentrated more on the arts and cultural studies rather than sports (Orr 26). While in high school, Reagan was elected student council president (Boyarsky 165). Early in his high school career, Reagan began dating a girl named Myrtle Williams (Edwards 133). Myrtle and Reagan’s mother, who also performed in many local plays (Boyarsky 164), influenced Reagan to join the drama club at his school (Orr 30). As a result, Reagan performed in many school plays (Boyarsky 165). During his teen years, Reagan had many summer jobs, including being a construction worker, a golf caddy, and a lifeguard, his favorite (Orr 29). Being the only lifeguard at Lowell Park, Reagan was credited to have saved a total of 77 lives from drowning over his six year span of being a lifeguard (Sidey 143).

As president, Reagan worked to bring back American exceptionalism, boost the economy, and terminate Communism. A president who famously accomplished more than he set forth to do, while some presidents have slid by succeeding in broken promises. Regardless, Reagan accomplished more in his two

Throughout Reagan’s eight years of presidency he had some traumatic events unfold. One very big moment for Reagan was the release of the 53 Americans that had been held hostage in Iran. On the issue of Communism and the Cold War Reagan once said, "Our strategy is defensive; our aim is to protect the peace by ensuring that no adversaries ever conclude they could

Ronald Regan, even after 20 years absent of state office, still manages to captivate American patriotism. As an upheld memorabilia of the United States, Reagan was well renounced as one of the nations most revered public figures. Ronald Reagan was born and raised in the small town of Tampico, Illinois, on February 6, 1911. Given Ronald’s childhood; Reagans Father had been employed as a shoe salesman at the time of Reagans birth, and his family (which included his mother, brother and father) inhabited calamitous housing that consisted of insufficient plumbing/running water and the geographical location was that of an “abnormal residency”. In essence, Reagan experienced an ecosystem that of the “common people” during maturing alterations. As Reagan progressed through high school he enrolled in extracurricular clubs such as student body council, school performances and even athletic activities. During Reagans well rounded & auspicious adolescence; Reagan’s father, Jack, had incoherent job occupation and the Reagans were swept with inconsistent shifting of lifestyles. Jack and Nelle (Reagan’s mother) were both devoted Democrats given the time. Jack belonged to the Roman Catholics, and Nelle was an active member of the Disciples of Christ. In 1932, Jack Reagan was rewarded for his Democratic activism by being named the local director of the Works Progress Administration, a federal agency created by Roosevelt to provide work for jobless Americans. (Miller

Ronald Reagan was able to obtain numerous achievements during his life. For instance, he acquired a Bachelor of Arts in Economics degree and a Sociology degree. He also broadcast the Chicago Club home games in Des Moines. In addition, he managed to rise to the rank of Captain during World War II while serving in the Army Air Corps First Motion Picture Unit. Also, Reagan wrote numerous books reflecting on his political views and life. These include An American Life, The Reagan Diaries, and Where’s the Rest of Me? Not to mention, Reagan had one of the original stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 9, 1960. Recording about social security sucking

On February 6th 1911, in Tampico Illinois the 40th president of the United States of America was born. This child was Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan had a hard, but very loving childhood. His mother, Nelle Reagan was a devout Christian woman, but on the other had his father, Jack Reagan was a very bad alcoholic. He had older brother, Neil, who was 3 years older than him. The family was moving because their father was always in and out of work. As a matter of fact, in the summer of 1920 the family moved to Dixon, Illinois. Ronald and his brother, Neil, were never really close. They attended different high schools. Ronald Reagan attended North Dixon High School, there he met what he thought was the love of his life, the preacher’s daughter,

When people have a disability it is life changing for them. They cannot just flip a switch and turn it off; most times it is a permanent ordeal. Participating in this experience opened my eyes even more to specifically what disabled people go through on a daily basis.