At the beginning of each school year, teachers get to know their students. For two of my girls, teachers have access to their IEP (individualized Education Plan). The IEP mainly consists of all the areas in which my children need help with. And with one of my girls having Down syndrome and one of them having cerebral palsy, those disabilities are physically obvious. And more than anything, I want teachers and everyone who meets them to know that my children are more than a diagnosis.
I am not saying that disability does not matter, because it does. Their disability is part of their identity, but they are more than their diagnosis. They are little girls, human beings with so much more inside of them than a medical diagnosis.
There is so much more to our kids than their diagnosis.
Our children, aside form their disabilities, have unique talents, abilities, strengths and weaknesses.
And this is what I hope teachers will see, cherish, and appreciate about my kids:
Their unique sense of humor.
What hurts their feelings.
What makes them happy.
Their favorite friend at school.
Their favorite activity.
The areas where they succeed at.
How they can be stubborn too, like other kids.
That one thing they are really good at.
That one thing that is a big struggle.
How seeing some teachers makes them smile.
The creativity they show through their art.
That sometimes you can say so much without words.
The unique way in which they perceive the world.
How much they have to contribute to their classmates and their teachers.
How much like other kids they truly are.
There are so many details of their life that makes them who they are. Those areas that could never be covered in an IEP, and things that might have nothing to do with their diagnosis.
Our children are gifts, precious gifts that we get to call our very own, we love them something fierce. And when we send them to school, we pray. We pray hard! Because we want their teachers to recognize the beautiful human beings that we see. We want them to witness the beauty of their lives.
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I completely agree with this Ellen! In grade school I wished people would have seen beyond my IEP more. As I got older and eventually entered college I had wonderful teachers who did see who I was beyond my label and it is truly a beautiful thing when a teacher loves their students and what they do. It makes them better teachers.
M, did we ever connect about having you do a guest post or doing an interview?
We emailed a few times I think…I might have sent you a few blog posts from my film blog to read. I would LOVE to do a guest post for you!!! Please let me know what you would like me to guest post about? And when you would like this post to be ready? I only ask that you share the links to my films in return and allow me to re share the link to the guest post on my own blog.
Let me find the emails!
Ellen, I have the flies and links from the emails and will re send them. Thank you!
Ellen, I did my best to resend you what was in the earlier emails under the subject “guest posts by M” Please reply and let me know if you got it. Thank you so much! I really really appreciate the offer!!!
My oldest son just had twin boys (9/9/16) and one has a 65% chance of having Downs Syndrome. The tests will be back soon. We are shocked as both parents are young. Please tell me something positive because this is the last thing we ever expected. We will love and nurture and enjoy our “unique gift” but have no experience with this condition.
Anything you can tell us, any advice you can give, any words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Mimi, I am so sorry that I just saw your comment! I will be emailing you.