empowerment – Mrs. G. Wiz

A Powerful Little Word

With.

The power to change the world is in this little 4-letter word.

I recently heard a speaker on tactile cues for students who are deaf blind. She ended by saying something that struck me: the student can now do it with the teacher rather than have it done to them.

With.

That small word changes the entire educational experience.

I thought about times I felt most powerless. In each of those situations, things were being done to me or around me. I wasn’t a willing participant.

I thought about times when I felt like I was being lectured or talked at, with no interaction. I didn’t feel connected to the person speaking.

Engaging public speakers are separated from the audience, yet they use language implying you are working with each other, sharing the work. They don’t talk about themself as someone separate from the audience, but rather, lean into shared experiences to reflect with each other.

With.

I think about teaching. In my favorite memories, the class was working as a unit. We were working with each other to achieve a goal, cheering on each person and struggling together when one struggled. We were empathetic WITH the experiences of each other.

Reflecting on the different groups of teachers and administrators in each job, I can think of years when we were a well-oiled team, leaning into each other to figure out how to best support students. In contrast, the years when I felt alone, trying to connect to the work in the general education classrooms. We interacted as competitors rather than value teaming. Said simply, I thrived when I was working with my colleagues rather than alone.

With.

Collaboration is not a new concept. However, it is often viewed as a requirement to check off a list rather than a meaningful partnership.

In true collaboration, the individuals work with each other, valuing the strengths each person brings to the team.

With.

Consider the difference between an IEP team of individuals, each championing their personal agenda, and an IEP team working together to create a single cohesive program that meets the needs of the student. Better yet, consider the power of the IEP team discussion that includes the student.

With. It is a powerful little word.

One Voice Is Enough

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been struggling. I feel like things are changing daily, and I can’t keep up. As a special educator, I don’t know if the systems that support people with disabilities are going to sustain the help, or if they are going to disappear or change their focus. I have lived all of my life with a fair amount of confidence in what the future will be, and now I am unsure.

What I now realize is that it is not all the changes that make me feel uncertain, but rather, how I respond to the changes. Politics, global tensions, wars, threats of recession, pandemics, drought and flooding…so many things pulling my attention away from what matters most to me: empowering people with disabilities to thrive.

When I am stressed, I watch a movie that I know I will enjoy because I have seen it before (or a lot), and do something creative. Tonight, I watched a classic character–Elle Woods– and as she always does, she inspired me in her own way. The movie I watched was Legally Blonde 2. In this movie, Elle Woods, played by Reese Witherspoon, is in Washington, DC, advocating for a bill to stop animal testing by cosmetics companies. And, in the closing monologue, as she speaks to the House, she reminded me that “one honest voice can speak louder than a crowd.”

What would happen if we made space for an honest voice at our IEP meetings? What if the honest voice was the student’s?

Far too many students do not have an effective communication system, yet they are communicating. We need to make space for their voice. When we listen, really listen, to the student, we learn how to best support them to achieve their dreams.

And, what would happen if we each remember that our voice matters? As the world gets noisy, we can calmly and honestly speak the truth as we know it. For example, I know that individuals with disabilities are critical members of our community. I know that a community that does not include all of the people within it is weaker than it should be. I know that students with disabilities are learning tremendous amounts every day, even if it was not the target for the class. And I know that our students who don’t have an effective communication system have a lot to say to us.

The Inclusion Myth

Inclusion is one of two words I would like to see no longer used.

Okay, some of you now quit reading and others are curious enough to hear me out.

The definition of “inclusion” requires two groups of people. One is the majority group or the one that represents the goal. Another group is seeking to join the majority group. Said another way, there is one group with the power to allow or deny admittance of another group. Note, permission to be admitted doesn’t mean you become an equal member or are even guaranteed the opportunity to participate in all the activities or conversations.

I don’t want students with disabilities to be granted permission to go to general education, I want them to belong as a member of the learning community.

Seeking inclusion is less than belonging. This is not a new idea but one that Dr. Erik Carter at the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities has explored for many years along with several other researchers within the faith community and education.

The drive for inclusion accidentally said that those without disabilities get to decide if students with disabilities are welcome in their educational space. That is a myth. Students with disabilities are students, and all students are welcome in public schools. The rules don’t say that one group gets to make the rules while the other group must wait for permission. One group isn’t “students” and the other “guests”. No, our public education rules calls them all “students.”

So you see, I want a single student body of learners whose needs are met by the incredible groups of educators who work in our public schools. The problem is, I don’t know what to call this model. I dream of a day when we don’t need to find a word because all learners belong. I hope to help make that dream happen. When we do, our communities will be stronger because everyone will contribute by paying taxes, working in the community, and creating meaningful relationships with neighbors and friends.

In short, we will all belong.

Hidden in Plain Sight

People with disabilities comprise about 29% of the United States population. Yet, if I were to reflect on my experiences of the past month, I have only seen a person with a visible disability 3 times. Keep in mind that I have visited large, ticketed events, restaurants, bars, malls, stores, and grocery stores. Where are the people with disabilities?

While it is true that there are many disabilities we cannot see, there is a large number of people with visible disabilities who simply aren’t represented equitability in my community. In the past (although not a distant enough past) individuals with significant disabilities were sent to institutions. But we know better. Yet, when was the last time you saw a child with a disability playing at the local park or on a splash pad? When did you last see an adolescent with disabilities at an arcade or youth sports? When was the last time you sat at a bar and saw a person with a disability sharing a drink with a friend?

As a child, I remember concentrating on the faces of children missing printed on milk cartons so I could identify them when I saw them. I never saw one of those children, and I feel much the same today as I look around me for representatives of my entire community, not just those with no disability or invisible disabilities.

To be honest, I also hate the phrase “invisible disability,” because it isn’t invisible to the person or those who love them. I wish I had better language and welcome suggestions to help me articulate clearly my desire to empower all people.

I do know that we no longer hide people away in an institution. But I also know we aren’t fully welcoming of all people and differences. I hope that in a small way, bringing to light who is missing will start a small ripple of change. The next time you are out, will you notice who is there but also who isn’t? Will you start to look for the members of our community with disabilities and opportunities to engage them as equals in your community? Will you advocate for accessible opportunities?

I hope so.

And to the self-advocates and their families, I offer you an opportunity to share how I can support you, welcome you, and empower you.

Change is Happening

I will admit, I typically focus on the work left to be done. I get frustrated with how slowly change occurs and sometimes, defeated. There are so many opportunities we still aren’t leveraging. Too many people are living below poverty because they have been told they can’t work and receive benefits (which is a myth, but that’s another post for another day.)

But lately, I’ve noticed something. Change is happening.

I first started to notice the change in women’s clothing vendors. I am, like so many women, am not petite and without curves. Therefore, when companies like Girlfriend Collective and Summersalt feature a large variety of body types, I notice.

Suddenly, I notice that companies are not only inclusive of body shape and skin color. They are also creating adaptive wear, designed to support independence and fashionable options. And to make it even better, the clothing looks great! This kind of business model makes me take notice. For instance, Aerie has adaptive underwear, supports Special Olympics, and includes athletes as models. Tommy Hilfiger has a whole line of clothing for boys, girls, men, and women. They have specially designed magnetic buttons, pants with legs that adjust in length or width to accommodate prosthetics, and wear designed for sitting.

Are these small changes enough? Does including a person of color, or of various body shapes, or with a disability really make a difference? Is it enough? Yes. It is. If you have any doubt, then this photo of a young man at Target should convince you otherwise.

When we see ourselves reflected in the pictures around us, it matters. The media can tell us we are of value simply by showing people like us positively and respectfully. This is so simple, and yet, it is so powerful.

Change is happening in a million little ways, and each little thing will add up to the big changes we need to empower everyone.

This post is not sponsored. These vendors have captured my attention due to their inclusive practices.