Tag: disabled children

Teacher Assaults Autistic Boy

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

As parents, we expect when we send our kids to school, they’re in good hands. After seeing a story on the news earlier this week, I was completely shocked about the subject of the report. A teacher had been caught on video assaulting a student with Autism.

When I started looking into the subject a bit more, I found out that unfortunately, this wasn’t an isolated incident. I’ve posted before on how students with disabilities experience more bullying by their peers than their non-disabled counterparts. What didn’t occur to me, until now, was the possibility that maybe the person bullying the student could actually be the teacher, and not other students.

Obviously, there’s no excuse for this behavior. It’s a shame that those we entrust with our kids feel they can use their position of trust and power in such a negative way. I feel the Superintendent of the school did the right thing by firing the teacher. Although the School Board reinstated her, I’m hoping the new investigation being conducted will result in the appropriate action to protect all children at the school, especially those with a disability.

I’ve had the pleasure to volunteer my time years ago at a local Middle School and realize the majority of teachers who take on the job genuinely care about their students. Although I’m not sure how, an extra safeguard should be implemented in the education field to ensure the people entrusted with the safety and well-being of our kids on a daily basis are doing exactly that. As a result, the kids can focus on learning instead of the physical abuse their teacher might inflict on them if they misbehave.

For more information check out the following link:

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/9-investigates-teacher-accused-assaulting-special-/ngPHN/

Thanks for reading..

cr

Model with Cerebral Palsy

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I’m so happy to write tonight’s post, though I have to admit, it tugs at my heart too.  Growing up with Cerebral Palsy, I remember my mom taking pictures of  me and developing them like I was a model.  Being a model with a disability wasn’t seen as possible when I was six or seven years old.  Today, I found out a British company  has chosen a seven-year old girl with Cerebral Palsy to model clothes for their catalog.

Holly Greenhow is 7 years old and has Cerebral Palsy.  I’m overjoyed that the rest of the world is starting to acknowledge that a person can be beautiful and have a disability.  I also love that according to the article, this isn’t the first time a child with a disability is being used to advertise something in mainstream markets.  Now that we’re getting closer to the Holiday Season, I’ve seen the “differently able” toy catalog from Toys-R-Us and while this is also a step in the right direction, I’m just thrilled about the statement this makes in the mainstream market.

When you grow up with a disability, it’s very easy to think you’re the only one going through things, even if you go to a school, or even a hospital, and see other kids like you.  Seeing someone who has a disability in a catalog makes you feel like you have a place in the world, and there are other people who can understand your situation.  You don’t feel like the odd-man-out.

Feeling like the odd-man-out could lead to self-esteem issues in life.  As I’ve said before, I’ve been very lucky to have an extremely supportive family but, that’s not always the case for others who live with a disability.  Thank you to those stores and other media outlets for making disability more visible for all to see.  The powerful and positive message sent with these actions will impact many people.

What other retail campaigns can positively influence how disability is viewed?

To find out more about this story, check out the link below:

http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/adorable-girl-cerebral-palsy-lands-major-modeling-gig-200200378.html

Thanks for reading..

cr

Adoption of Special Needs Kids

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I’ve thought about this subject for a while.  There are so many kids that need good homes and for whatever reason, few people are given the opportunity to adopt them.  I was watching “The Little Couple” the other day and saw that Jennifer and Bill had adopted a child with special needs from another country.

Adoption in general takes someone who has the resources to go through the expensive process but, how many people are willing or even think to adopt a disabled child? There’s a family in Colorado that has done just that.  They’ve also tried to bring awareness to the fact that there are many disabled children in other countries that can be adopted.  I know that caring for a disabled child can be costly and emotional but they deserve a home like anyone else.

I know there are lots of children in need of homes and good people who want to take care of them.  Adoption of a disabled child is an option even in this country that few people consider but really should.  The rewards can be many for not only the adoptive parent but, the child as well.  Kudos to the family in the story below for trying their hardest to make a difference in the lives of so many children.

What further information would you need to know about this type of adoption to lend your support?

For more information check out the link below:

http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/why-this-huge-colorado-family-is-so-special-220947752.html

Thanks for reading..

cr

Accessible Playgrounds

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

One of my favorite things to do is go with my son to the playground.  We’re very lucky that one of his mom’s friends doesn’t live too far and picks us up every week so that he can go and have some fun with his friends.  As a child, I remember going to the park in Brooklyn and playing on the swings but, not much else.  I also had a swing set at home and my friends used to come to my house and play for a little while when they could.

Last week, it occurred to me that most places don’t have accessible playgrounds where everyone has the opportunity not only to play but also interact with each other.  Then, I heard something on the radio about accessible playgrounds so, I did a bit of research.  There are some playgrounds in different parts of the country that are specifically constructed for kids with disabilities.  While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that public places, like public playgrounds be accessible, these modifications only need to be made to playgrounds already in existence if they’re undergoing renovations.  Accessibility of playgrounds also applies to those playgrounds being newly constructed.

Then, another thought occurred to me.  Accessible playgrounds allow for disabled parents to play at the playground with their kids too.  That’s a wonderful idea since some of the best memories we have as kids are the times we spend having fun with our parents.

What do you think about the idea of an accessible playground?

To find out more information, you can go to:

http://www.npr.org/2013/08/27/213827534/for-kids-with-special-needs-more-places-to-play

Thanks for reading..

cr

My Karate Experience

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I know I’ve been talking a lot about adaptive sports, so, I figured in today’s post, I’d tell you a bit about how adaptive karate changed my life.

When I was about 17 years old, I was lucky enough for my mom to enroll me in Karate classes.  That’s right, Karate.  My mom had taken Karate herself for many years and I’m not exactly sure how, but I became interested in it too.  I do remember feeling a little nervous when I went to check out the class.  The kids all had different disabilities and they were much younger than me but, I decided it would probably be something exciting for me to do.

At first, I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to do any sort of Karate since for the most part, I need my cane to get around outside my house.  I had no idea how much it would help me in the long run.  After a while, I was running around the Karate studio in the routine warm-ups the instructor had us doing and even sparring with him!

I didn’t realize how much I could actually do, not only in class with different stances and punches, but, it even started to help me outside of class.  My stamina increased and my balance got better! I couldn’t believe it! Yes, I was exhausted after class and did have some discomfort in my feet because I had to stand for longer periods than I was used to, and be barefoot, but, after a while, it wasn’t so uncomfortable.

I believe that staying as active as you can, even when you have a disability does help you in many ways.  No matter what your limitations may be, there are always options out there in the form of different activities for you to do and things for you to see.

What activity would you participate in if given the chance?

Thanks for reading..

cr

Dolls for Downs

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

While browsing the Internet the other day, I saw a story about a doll that’s fashioned like a disabled child.  To be a bit more specific, a child with Down Syndrome.  While I was growing up, I used a wheelchair.  Although I knew most of the kids at my school didn’t have a disability, it didn’t bother me.  This isn’t necessarily the case for all disabled kids.  I think having dolls with differences is a great idea for children with disabilities so they’re less likely to feel left out when it comes to their non-disabled peers, which can sometimes be the case.  If there are dolls with different eye, skin and hair colors, it only makes sense to have dolls with different disabilities too.  It’s great that dolls can be made representative of real life.

Having these dolls available can help kids feel like they’ve got someone to identify with.  They can also help build self-esteem.  It’s a great idea for children with out a disability to have a chance to be exposed to these dolls too.  That’s because it could help them become sensitive to others no matter their circumstance.

When I started thinking about this, I remembered that when I was about 17 years old, Mattel came out with the first Barbie doll in a wheelchair.  It was really cool to see that a toy company seemed to be catching up with the rest of the world, but then, it kind of disappeared from the market.

I really like that this doll encourages things like occupational therapy.  I remember when I was younger, I was really not interested in doing the exercises that were assigned to me by my physical or occupational therapist in the least.  Maybe these dolls can help make a not so fun thing a little bit more fun to do.  All in all, I feel like these dolls have the potential to make an impact on many people.

What do you think about creating different dolls to exemplify the differences of people in society?

Thanks for reading…

cr

The TSA Traumatizes 3 year old Toddler

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I know that traveling can be a bit of a pain in the neck sometimes.  Especially because when I travel by airplane, I order a wheelchair from the airline to be waiting for me when I get to the airport.  This just makes the chore of getting through the airport with the large number of people who are also traveling and getting through security checkpoints a bit easier.  That’s why this morning when I was watching “Good Morning America”, I was surprised to hear one of the stories they were talking about.

They showed a 3 year old girl named Lucy who has Spina Bifida and was traveling to Disney World with her family.  Because she’s in a wheelchair due to her disability, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) told her parents they needed to screen the wheelchair and their daughter.  When her Mom said they couldn’t do that unless she could tape it, they said they couldn’t allow her to do so.

Security measures need to be followed for the safety of the general public and I am all for the precautions but, when you treat people unfairly and make a 3 year old cry, that becomes a problem.

I understand from personal experience the extra screening that goes on at the airport because of incidences such as September 11th and agree that extra safety measures need to be taken.  I also understand that when traveling in a wheelchair, the screening can get to the point of uncomfortable because of the frequent use of body pat downs.  I can say that using body scanners, which is supposed to be less intrusive on people’s personal space doesn’t really work for someone with limited or no balance.  Maybe some other method could be devised in the future where the security officers don’t need to get in someone’s personal space so much while still ensuring the safety of all passengers.

In this case, compassion could’ve been shown to the family while still following safety protocol. 

What are your feelings about security measures at the airport?

 Here is the link to the story:

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/tsa-apologizes-traumatizing-disabled-toddler-135529408–abc-news-travel.html

Thanks for reading..

cr

Bullying and People with Disabilities

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Recently, I’ve seen a lot of different stories on t.v. and online about bullying and its devastating effects, not only on victims but, on their families as well.  Bullying isn’t really something new.  Like many other issues, the media and its wide reach help bring this problem to the forefront of society’s attention more today than in years’ past. 

Students who are disabled experience bullying at a higher rate than those who aren’t disabled.  That’s because they’re perceived as easier targets who can’t defend themselves.  When parents send their kids to school, they are under the impression that the kids are going somewhere safe, and that their child will not become the victim of a bully.

 For parents of disabled children there are a few avenues that can be utilized to help with this problem.  If your child is being taunted because of their disability, it could reach the level of disability harassment.  According to the U.S. Department of Education, disability harassment is “intimidation or abusive behavior toward a student based on disability that creates a hostile environment by interfering with or denying a student’s participation in or receipt of benefits, services, or opportunities in the institution’s program” (U.S. Department of Education 2000).

 It’s very important as parents to know what is going on at your child’s school and to have open communication with their 504 or IEP (Individual Education Plan) team (whichever applies to them).  This team isn’t only there to maximize your child’s learning experience but, also to make sure they receive the services and support they need to succeed in their studies.

If your child is having these types of issues at school, it wouldn’t only be hard for them to put forth their best efforts but, also hard to not worry about when the next time might be that they run into another issue with the person in question.  Also, if your child is being bullied, their IEP or 504 Team should be brought together in a meeting to see how the plan can be adjusted to address the issue.  At the same time, it is also very important that if you find your child in this situation, you proceed with caution in resolving the issue so that your actions don’t inadvertently make the situation worse.

All in all, slowly but surely, the issue of bullying is being addressed by schools.  The best thing we can do for our students is to take a proactive approach to help solve the issue if in fact it presents itself.

For more information, please visit:  http://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/groups/special-needs/BullyingTipSheet.pdf

Thanks for reading..

cr