Blog #17
My Specials-----Where are they now?
In working over 50 years in Education and Counselling, I remember the joy and sadness I
experienced working with "my specials" at a Regina, High School. I worked two years in a
program for Special Needs students aged 15 to 21. In my second year, I was in charge of 26
students, a half-time EA, a work experience staff member and three part-time staff doing
lessons in Typing, Music, Foods, Library and Art. I had 17 students in my class and the other
teacher had 9 students. She didn't have a teaching license ,so I was to mentor her. I will change
the names of my students, but I do wonder how they are doing all these years later.
In my class, I had four students with brain injuries and mobility issues. All injuries were
from accidents. Will got bucked off a horse and hit his head on a rock. Dan was hit in a
crosswalk, flew high in the air and on a cement sidewalk. Seth was the only survivor when
the rest of his family was killed in a car crash. Clarise was accidently dragged behind a car
when the car door was shut on her long scarf that was tied around her neck. All were about
6 or 7 years old when the injuries occurred. Each one had memory loss, physical and balance
issues ,eye impairment , and temper tantrums with yelling and swearing. How painful it was for
their families and for themselves to remember how able they were before the accident and
how they were afterwards.
Next were my students born with physical ability loss and who had endured many absences
due to surgeries and were behind in learning. Liam age 20, wheelchair bound, normal mental ability,
was born with spinal bifida. Donnalea age 17 was also in a wheelchair. Finn was 16 and walked very
slowly and unsteadily on double crutches held at his elbows . Farrell age 16 had cerebral palsy,
very unsteady in walking and very garbled speech. These students had endured many operations,
only to be disappointed by the lack of improvement.
Liz, Jillie, Karen, Mel, Torrie, and John were born with mental deficiencies. All had low
abilities but were always in pretty good moods, smiling, laughing and goin through puberty.
Jillie also had been born to a mom who had taken thalidomide. She had only her right arm to
her elbow with no thumb nor pinkie finger, double disjointed hips, disfigured facial features
and poor speech ability.
The last three were Autistic. Mike and Tim were very quiet , spun things, made sounds,
rocked and often seemed to be in their own world. Ollie was one of a kind. If disturbed or
triggered, he would become aggressive, threatening and violent. He was huge, and his
temper tantrums included screaming, swearing and throwing things, even punches. The others were
afraid of him.
My aide Joy was wonderful. The students loved her and so did I. She was a solid rock. After
two years, I was exhausted. We were alone in a huge school with three floors. There were no ramps,
elevators nor chair lifts. All our classes were segregated. Part-time teachers held one class a week
in Foods, Library, Music and Typing. I did all individualized course planning, Art and Gym classes.
Where was the integration you ask? It wasn't supported. With all the challenges my students had,
they helped each other get up those stairs. We were a very small caring group . I have memories of
the good times and wonder where they all are now. Next time I will single out memories of
individuals and how we laughed and often cried at our circumstances.
Til then......
Faith Always !!
Comments
Post a Comment