Disabilities

It is hard for me to think of a particular experience with a person with a disability. During my elementary education students with the greater physical and mental disabilities were not integrated into the regular classroom, like they are today. I remember realizing when some peers of mine were not as smart as the rest of the students in class and required extra help. This never made me treat them any differently in the classroom though and I often enjoyed helping them with something that I had already mastered. I will expect the same tolerance from the students in my classroom. I don't want any child to discriminated against because they may have a physical or mental disability. I think that the art room can be a wonderful place for those with disabilities because everyone has different artistic strengths. I think art classes can also be accommodating for students by allowing them the ability to use different tools and techniques.

After reading others blogs I remembered that I have family friend who's son as aspergers. He could be very challenging at times, but had amazing insight into all kinds of topics. I know that he got teased a lot in middle school and high school because students thought he was strange. His parents were also reluctant to admit that there may be something that was holding him back socially. I haven't seen him in a while but I know he was able to graduate from high school and I hope that in the future he can do great things...even though they may not be what his parents had planned for him when he was young!