What I Learned During Class

In the video “Inclusion, belonging, and the disability revolution” (TEDTalks, 2014), speaker Jennie Fenton opens with describing situations where people with disabilities are segregated and excluded from their communities, sent to live together away from society, or even treated as lesser humans. She then proceeds to introduce her family, including her six-year-old daughter that was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Jennie admits to previously having negative or frightened thoughts about having a child with a disability, but with her “seven realizations,” she learned that her daughter was merely on a different path than others, but that no one should ever feel broken or not a whole person (TEDTalks, 2014). After she explains that there are roughly one billion people with a disability throughout the world, Jennie states that she believes in possibility over disability. If a person’s

Life is full of lessons, but learning to find a balance between social opportunities and important responsibilities may be one of the most significant in order to improve the quality of one's life.

I am very glad I got to watch this film, it gave me insight on how much harder learning and school is for a child with a learning disability. I would recommend this film to all aspiring teachers. I plan to

I learned that our thinking can make bad decisions. Our thoughts can change with comparing things. We can say no to one thing, but if it is compared to something else that can change our mind. The comparison can make things look different in our mind to make us make a different decision. The information that I learned is important because it helps you to look at things differently now. Sometimes it is best to stick with your first choice or decision and can cause an irrational decision.

I agree that the video about Rick and Dick Hoyt may not lighten the responsibility that parents with children who have disabilities may have, but it has the potential to motivate them. In one of the letters that the Hoyt’s received I remember the letter stating how the father did not believe he was doing all that he could for his son, but in watching the Hoyt video he was inspired to do better by his child. In pursuing a higher education I was always motivated to help others, and just like you videos like this prove that I am on the right path. I’ve always wanted to help people and one day being a speech pathologist will ensure this. I want to be able to make a difference and work with others who want the same. Actually seeing an individual

She knows that the earth is a cruel place, but we need to push for those who need a little help in life. Anyone that has been mistreated or looked down on can relate to what she is fighting for. She displays this by show what happens behind the scene of anyone with a handicap in Bring Down The Barriers- Seen and Unseen : “A student with a sensory-processing disorder needs to sit in the front row of class and take notes on a laptop computer, but the professor insists that laptops may be used only in the back of the room” (Adam, Rachel). By showing what needs to be changed, Ms. Adams can reach into those that believe we can make a better future for everyone. This will also not only help the handicapped but other as well. Another essay called Include, Everyone, Ms.Adams paints how a kinder future can form: “I know not all parents are sold on the idea of an education in kindness and tolerance. But there are more pragmatic reasons why inclusion is a good idea. It’s great preparation for the workforce leaders of the future. Employers are increasingly aware that people with disabilities are dedicated, reliable and innovative workers. Recently, it has been reported that the software corporation SAP is actively seeking out employees on the autism spectrum” (Adams, Rachel). If educators include people of all disabilities in school curriculums, American can see more situations like this. It shows that making sure

Some of the knowledge that I gained from this course includes: terminology and ways to refer to individual with disabilities, significant historical events, and the difference between social model of disabilities and medical model. I also learned some common myths and misconception about people with disabilities. In society we were taught that people with disabilities are not full equal to none disable people and they have nothing to offer to society but that was not accurate at all. Throughout human history, people with disabilities experienced discrimination through out the world and they are being viewed inadequate. Understanding the people with disabilities and hearing their voice, made me to reflect a lot through this course and to recheck what I learned from society. Now I can see things differently and I am more conscious about feelings toward them. My approach toward people with disabilities would be more positive and more meaningful. Before this course when I interact someone with disability, my first view was always direct to their disabilities rather than the person but in this class I learned that person should be first then their disabilities, which creates more meaningful interaction both of us. The things that shocked me the most was that their abusers are those are either family members or caregiver, and the most violence

This might be one of the hardest things, I will do in group because I have learned so much about myself. I have no idea what you went and are going through on a day to day basis. I can not begin to imagine the feeling you had about me when you came home to the first search warrant. You could have felt; disappointed, sad, hurt, shocked or let down.

In high school I did not start in all honors classes, and I was not always ranked number 12 in my class. I started in the lower classes, and I had one honors class my freshman year. I was ranked number 22 in my freshman class. I knew that I could do better, and I knew that I wanted to challenge myself. I worked my butt off to get where I am today, and that is in all A.P classes. This shows my determination, and how I am hard worker. I push myself to be the very best, and I let nothing get in my

As a child I struggled with my own identity. I was abused as a baby and was taken into the home of a pastor. The pastor became a father image to me until a few days after my seventh birthday he died. After he died I was abused again and hardly went to school. The DSS came to get me and I lived with a foster care for a few months. I was then given to my step sister with legal guardianship. My reading and math skills in school were horrible and I was placed into a program to help me reach to the level I had to be at my age. When I entered high school the program took notice of my overall improvement. I started from a poor improvement student to an honors student and into an advancement placement student in English. I've been through a lot in

When I was asked to reflect on my experiences in EDSE 316 and the fieldwork, I had to think long and hard on how I would sum up four months of classes and fieldwork into four pages. I have learned so much about the various disabilities and how it has change the world of special education. I think a better term would be the “endless possibilities of education”. It wasn’t too long ago when children with disabilities would be stuck in a room in the back of school only to be seen in the beginning and end of the school day. They were the ones who rode the other buses and no one really talked about. This class has allowed me to speak of my own family and how special education impacted my life. I have a brother whose whole life was spent in the special education class, and my own sons with speech and learning disabilities who are now receiving special education services. It also allowed me to reflect on my own participation in the special education program in my early elementary years when I was struggling with my own speech disability. This class gave me the chance to see the timeline of special education, from its earliest beginnings to what it is now.

Waiting in line to go through customs I didn 't want to think about all all the things I would have to do. Support myself financially, find a place to live, figure out how to start college. It all seemed overwhelming. I immigrated on my own to US when I was seventeen. The transition was difficult, and I considered returning back to India. Even though it would have been easier to return, staying provided better opportunities. As I grappled with my new environment and struggled to acclimate. Two experiences played a pivotal role in shaping my character. First, the support I received from family and friends. The second, my work with adolescent youth. Through these I understood the importance of support and the joy of providing it. The

What are things that I have learned from outside of school? I have always been quick to learn a new hobby or skill ever since I was young. Three skills I have learned outside of school would be learning to cook, learning how to fix cars, and learned how to play hockey. These three topic have made me a better person since I have learned them.

The activities, without fail, made me frustrated. I wanted to lash out at the world, and I always wondered why students with learning disabilities had emotional problems. I came to realize that people with learning disabilities live with their disabilities for the rest of their lives. That these sensitivity activities were only temporary for us, but it was reality for those dealing with the disabilities. This is what changed me the most, realizing this simple truth.

Every person deserves an education. It is what shapes us, allows us to grow. As future and current educators or parents, understanding the perspective of persons with disabilities in the classroom is important. Being confident in your own abilities and not being afraid to use the resources available to you.