Day 4: Physical Therapy and Prosthetics

Today was wonderful!!  A dear friend and physical therapist came and shared with the kids.  Her son was in my class four years ago and she has shared her time and talents with us ever since.  I love her heart and compassion.

Mrs. Dorr shared some pictures with us of a variety of children with a physical disability and then explained some of the equipment they use to strengthen their bodies and help them improve their mobility.  The kids were very interested in the water therapy and hippo therapy.  One of my students has a sweet brother that has a variety of therapies so he was able to add to the presentation.  The children were also able to watch a basketball game played from wheelchairs.

Mrs. Dorr gave all of the children an opportunity to experience a therapy ball.  They loved bouncing, flying with their arms and legs stretched out, as well as floating on the top of the ball.  I think they could have spent the rest of the day with Mrs. Dorr and would have been very happy!

A little later some friends of mine came in to visit with the children.  Mr. Beatty lost an arm after he climbed a 65 pole to clear some trees.  He was shocked and fell about 60 feet.  Unfortunately he lost his arm and suffered other injuries.  Mr. Beatty and his wife have such positive attitudes and as Mr. Beatty kept saying, "You just have to keep moving forward."

Mr. Beatty showed the children his prosthetic arm.  The boys were especially impressed with the hook at the end and instantly they all became "Captain Hook."  When he brought out his prosthetic and robotic hand, the children were quite surprised! I was impressed with how real it looked and the dexterity the hand had.  The kids were uncomfortable at first but quickly realized that it is just a tool and it was pretty cool!  Mr. and Mrs. Beatty made everyone feel comfortable and were very inspiring.  We are only on week one and the kids have already met some amazing people.

Day 3: How To Be A Polite Friend

It was a quieter day.  We will have a number of visitors tomorrow, however.  

We had a wonderful day of reading a few books about children with physical disabilities.  My favorite time of the day was role playing what it would be like to be in a wheelchair and how to be kind and polite to someone that uses a wheelchair.  

I love to exaggerate some of the crazy things we do and then ask the children what is wrong with what I am doing.  What am I doing that is impolite?  How could I be a better friend?  We talked about a number of things such as, see the person first, not the wheelchair and sit down next to the person in the wheelchair rather than standing and looking down on them.  We also talked about offering assistance is polite but do not just start pushing someone around.  We had a number of suggestions to discuss and the children came up with a few on their own.

As we concluded our time together I asked the children if you can dance when you are in a wheelchair.  They said of course and started wiggling around in their seats.  I said that is one way to do it but here is another way.  I started singing a Beatles song and danced with one of my students in the wheelchair.  They loved watching us spin around the room together.

Day 2: This Is What It Means...'

It was a powerful day today.  We started off the day reading the book, The Boy Who Changed The World, by Andy Andrews.  I have always loved this story because it talks about a little boy that changed the world but acknowledges the person before him that impacted his life and maybe he was the one that changed the world.  Then the story takes another step and talks about who impacted this person and then another step back and then...in other words, we can all change the world by the impact we make on others.

I then showed the kids the impact they will make by raising money for "Wheels For The World."  We went to www.joniandfriends.org and visited their kids corner.  We then went to a video called, "Ebenezer" on the homepage and the kids fully understood the difference they will be able to make.

A little boy was unable to play outside but his whole world changed when he was given the gift of mobility.  What I love about five year-olds is they are surprised when they see a child with a disability but they quickly move to love and compassion.  My hope is they will be able to then move to friendship.

I introduced a big word to the kids today, "accommodation."  We talked about the things a person with a physical disability may not be able to do, but with a few accommodations or adaptations, they may very well be able to do it.  By the end of the week the kids will be masters at thinking of accommodations!

Next, I pulled out a ukulele and told the kids it is like a tiny guitar.  I started strumming it and asked the children, "How do you think you would play it if you didn't have any arms?"  One of my kids who tunes in very quickly said, "With your toes!!"  I told her she was right and then introduced them to Tony Melendez by showing a clip from YouTube.  Afterwards we all took a little rest on the floor and listened to his music.

From watching an introductory video on Joni Eareckson Tada yesterday, the kids knew that she couldn't paint with her hands and has to use her mouth to hold a paintbrush.  So we decided to try it!  Most of the kids thought it was pretty difficult and it was especially difficult to not sneak their hands on top of the table and use them!

When I asked the kids during "Circle Time" if they thought it was hard they all started saying it was easy.  I reminded them of their comments while they were painting.  When I pulled out a picture of one of Joni's paintings, every one of their mouths dropped and they started saying, "WOOOOW!"  I shared with them that Joni says the ability to paint is not in your hands, but in your mind.

Tomorrow we will have our first guests.  I told them when they get dressed tomorrow to be sure and put their manners on :)  I know they will love their new friends tomorrow!

Day One: You Can Change the World!

Over the weekend I decorated the door of my classroom with butterflies, put up pictures of butterflies, and then hung a few more.  I brought in my teaching assistant, Smiley the wheelchair, and set up 30+ books I will read to my students over the next month.  The best decorations for the butterfly effect came in with the kids, however.

$116 came in first thing, on the first day of the unit.  This is almost enough for one wheelchair and we

hadn't even started.  116 butterflies were proudly hung up on the wall of the school displaying the kid's commitment to make a difference and help out another child.

The first day of the unit is much like Christmas.  I want the kids to open all of the presents and surprises all at one time because I am so excited for them.  Discovering a little bit at a time over a serious of weeks will produce the most heart change, however.

Today we talked about how everyone of them has the ability to change the world.  Even though what they do may seen small, the ripple effect can be felt around the world in a matter of minutes.  We had a great conversation about the purpose everyone has and they shared with me what they thought their purpose was...they gave beautiful answers.  

I introduced the children to my friend and hero, Joni Eareckson Tada, by watching a video from Joni and Friends Kid's Corner.  They were amazed by Joni's abilities and already feel a connection to this beautiful lady.  They shared some of the things a physical disability can prohibit but they were much more fascinated with Joni's ability to sing, paint, and write books.

I hope their wheels are spinning as they think about the conversations today and I hope their questions are endless over the dinner table tonight.  I can hardly wait for them to meet the amazing people, who happen to have a physical disability, that will enter their lives in the next few days.  

One More Time!

On Monday I will begin my favorite time of the year! I just hope I can sleep tonight. I will take my class on a journey that I hope and pray lasts a lifetime. I have no doubt they will teach me many things as well. In the next month 15 kids will learn about how to be a friend to someone with a disability. They will embrace the experience with questions, excitement, inclusiveness, passion, and sacrifice. 

Over the years so far, the Bridge Class has raised $12,000 to refurbish and distribute wheelchairs for "Wheels For the World." On Friday my students were already dreaming about ways to raise money for children that need wheelchairs, all the way from making refreshments to emptying out their piggy banks.  It is hard for me to hear about such deep sacrifice from kids, but I know how worth it the sacrifice is.  The kids will grow so much in their perceptions of themselves as well as those around them.  

It is bitter sweet that this is the last time I will do this, at least in my classroom.  The butterfly will have a special meaning for me from here on out because it will remind me of the butterfly effect of kids helping kids.  Here we go... one more time!

Austin Faith and Disability Conference

I wanted to share a great opportunity on March 3 at University Christian Church on faith and disability.  There will be a number of great speakers along with the opportunity to engage in dialogue with students with disabilities.

Bill will be speaking on, "Understanding Autistic Behavior By Looking At Neuroanatomy."

austin faith and disability

A Community Conversation

 To register go to:austinfaithanddisability.wordpress.com

Mar-gin

Bill and I have been preparing for a talk, "Grace...Margin...Without."  The name of our ministry is "Grace Without Margins" but what do each of those words mean?  As Bill prepares his explanation of 

grace, I am preparing my explanation of margins and how it would be to not have margins in our society.

Have you ever thought about who lives in the margins of our society?  I suppose on one level we all

have at one time or another.  Maybe we felt we didn't fit into the mainstream of society because of our appearance, our intellect, or our financial status.  Living in the margins of a group can be a very lonely place.

I have been reading a variety of books over the last couple of weeks and my understanding of the margins has grown.  I have often thought of the poor and disabled living in the margins but it had not occurred to me that the illiterate and the physically or sexually abused can also be in the margins.

This week when you go to church or school or a social event, look and see who is in the margins of your gathering.  Drawing someone out of the margins may completely turn their day around and give you the opportunity for a new friendship.