Service Learning

For my service learning hours this semester, I went to Hands, the special needs FUN RUN, and to Life Skills. Last semester, I had the opportunity to go to Hands so I was grateful that the same people were there so I could reconnect with them and learn from them.

I am always impressed with the capability of one girl in particular that I associate with at Hands. She can easily hold a conversation, enjoys doing the artwork, and likes to make connections with the people around her. She remembers people from a long time ago and likes making new friends. She is interested in music and games to play on her i-pod. She likes getting her toenails done and wearing jewelry.

This semester, I really enjoyed focusing on the abilities and skills of these individuals, not their disabilities. When I went to Fun Run, there was a man there that ran the entire mile and when he finished, he called one of his friends and said, "I just finished a marathon!" I enjoyed dancing with them at the finish line and continuing to get to know them.

To prepare for their end of the semester talent show, we practiced their talents for Life Skills. I loved listening to a poem that one girl wrote about love and how she shows her love by being their for people. Another girl sang a song about America and was so proud to be on the stage, singing her heart out. I admire their ability to share what they love to do without fear of being judged by others.

I am grateful for how far America has come in helping individuals to become a part of society and to not exclude them from our circle. I feel a desire to work with young children and to help them be a part of the general education classroom as much as possible. Too many youth grow up not knowing how to interact with someone who is different from them. As a part of the LRE we have seen students included in general education classrooms in high school and in the middle school. But it isn't happening enough. If we want our students to learn what real life is really about, we need them to interact with those who haven't been as blessed as they are. We sill have a long way to go. I wonder how hard it would be to have preschools that included students of all ability levels and how hard it would be to continue using heterogeneous groups throughout grade school.