Day 7: Visual Impairment

A lady with a gentle and tender soul came in to share with my kids today.  She has been a kindergarten teacher for the last twenty years and now stays home with her sweet baby boy.  She is beautiful, talented, smart, and very compassionate.

She was also born without one of her eyes and had to have some other surgeries as a result of her disabilities.  She shared with the children about the limitations of the eye she does have and shared about the artificial eye that was made for her.  She went to a school for the blind as a child because doctors believed she would no longer have any sight by the time she became a teenager.  She learned to read Braille in preparation for blindness.

I loved how she explained everything to the kids but even in the midst of the difficulties she had hope.  She also had the courage to do whatever God asked her to no matter how challenging it was or even frightening.  The kids were spellbound as she shared about taking her students on a field trip to Interspace Caverns when she is uncomfortable with being in the dark and has depth perception problems.  Making her way through the cave was difficult. She also lead a hike through some higher elevations but she had God by her side to give her strength.

The children were told about tools someone with a visual impairment can use to help them such as a magnifying glass, a cane, and a seeing-eye dog.  By the time she left she was a new friend and we all had a better understanding of what it would be like to live with a visual impairment.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."  Proverbs 3:5,6

Day 6: Amazing People

It is difficult to document all of the lessons learned in the classroom and the great conversations that follow.  The kids truly are like little sponges as they have learned about a variety of people.  We started off the day watching a video about Joni Eareckson Tada and the summer she dived into shallow water and broke her neck.  She has been affected by quadriplegia ever sense.  The kids already know how the Lord has used her talents, drive, and platform to reach so many people that had lost their hope.

We read the story of Mephiboseth from the book of Luke.  Mephiboseth was in line to be the next king but people didn't feel he was fit to be a king because he had lost the use of his legs as a young boy.  He was also banished from the palace because of his disability.

King David reached out to Mephiboseth, however, and not only welcomed him to the palace but gave him a seat at this table.  He made sure that all of Mephiboseth's needs were met.  As a result of King David's actions and kindness, other people started to treat Mephiboseth well and his life was changed forever.  I have seen this happen in churches as well.  Once the pastor has a friendship with those with a disability, people in the congregation will begin to as well.

The kids were also introduced to one of my other heroes, Nick Vujicic.  What an inspiration he is.  Nick travels all over the world sharing his faith and encouraging teens.  Nick has no arms and no legs but can swim and skateboard and a multitude of other things.  The kids laughed at his stories and his great sense of humor and loved him before the video was over.  When Nick showed them how he gives a hug, they all wanted to try it and closed the day giving each other "Nick hugs."

As the day came to a close we recited our Bible verse for the week, 

"A new command I give you; love one another.  As I have loved you so must you love one another." 

John 13:34

From No Limbs To No Limits - Nick Vujicic - YouTube

▶ 1:10:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLyHdjEdtus

Day 5: Healing from Traumatic Brain Injury

One of my students was proud to have her dad join us at school.  She had a huge smile on her face as she introduced him.  He was hurt in a car accident four years ago.  He underwent 11 months of hospitalization and rehabilitation due to damage to his neck and skull, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke like symptoms on the ride side of his body.

Our guest shared the challenges of being in a hospital for so long and how difficult it was to learn how to do everyday tasks all over again.  He had to learn how to eat, swallow, walk, read and write.

I loved how well he communicated to five year-olds and the enthusiasm he had for perseverance.  He shared how you can't give up and you just keep moving forward.  He also shared his dreams for the future.  It was great to see such a spark in his eye as he shared those dreams.  No doubt the journey has been hard and exhausting, but he only had positive things to say.

In addition, our special guest shared how he looks at people with disabilities differently now.  They aren't different than anyone else and they need our support.

I hope the kids will remember the great examples they have had this month of endurance, perseverance,  and a positive attitude.  We have already met people who have endured a lot on their journey, but they are stronger and more compassionate as a result.

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.