My Supports

This week we are focusing on the importance of inclusion for every child in early childhood programs.  Inclusion could mean children creating environments for children that are not only "ability  diverse" but also those that have different cultural or linguistic backgrounds.  Part of this assignment is for me to think about how factors in my daily life support me and what it would be like for me if those supports were gone.

The first factor I thought of was a practical/physical one:  stools.  I am not very tall, barely 5 feet, so I need help reaching the tall cupboards and shelfs in my home.  If I didn't have my stools, I would have a really hard time getting things up or down!  Stools are very helpful to me.  I am also grateful I can pull my seat up in my minivan so I can drive.  If I could not drive, I would go crazy!  What does drive me crazy are the things in the store or supermarket on the very top shelves that I cannot reach without assistance.  

Emotionally, I have great supports.  My husband is a good provider and very supportive of me working on my master's degree and helps with the kids so I can get work done.  My children, though they don't know it, are my motivation and support me with their unconditional love.  I know also that the rest of my family is behind me and I can go them whenever I need something.  If my emotional support was gone, it would be a lot harder for me to get motivated.  Not that I couldn't, because I am not co-dependent and I do not rely on others in that way, but when one is alone and has no one to encourage or love them, it may be hard to see the reasons to keep pursuing your goals and ambitions.  

The other part of this assignment is to imagine myself with a specific disability and the supports I would need.  I am going to try to imagine what I would do if I was blind.  The most important of our senses is our vision.  We are visual creatures and we live in a world that is meant to be seen.  If I could not see I would need to rely on someone or something almost all the time.  Other than my family support system, I would need a dog, a cane and a really good sense of hearing, touch, smell and orientation.  I would also need a good sense of humor and a positive outlook on life.  Having such a disability could be very depressing and I would not be able to meet that challenge if I had a negative attitude.  

Children with disabilities are unique, because they grow up with them.  They do not know life any differently.  I think that is a blessing.  To go from having something such as the ability to walk, talk or see and then not be able to would be a much different challenge than having that be the way life has always been.  As educators, we need to able to view children as the people they are, not the challenges they have in life.  We will need to educate ourselves in the special accommodations and supports they may need to succeed in our programs, but have to remember after that they are much the same as every other child.