The brilliance of the obvious

Just heard about this organization, Exceptional Minds (www.exceptionalminds.org) which teaches young adults with autism spectrum disorders how to work in computer animation and graphic arts. Sometimes, the best ideas for bright futures are right in front of us.

Exceptional Minds is moving towards offering a postsecondary training program that would enable graduates to find work in the film industry.

I simply can't do the website justice; there are many samples of student films and a story about how one student contributed to the movie Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (in theaters, summer 2011).

Sweet sorrow

I told my students that I will not be coming back in the fall. As excited as I am about future opportunities, my heart ached all weekend remembering the sad faces. I've been teaching in my school for sixteen years. Without knowing it, I somehow became an institution...

After a few days, the kids are starting to cheer up. We were having a quiet moment today, and one young man [D] asked, "Mrs. K., how are we going to do this without you?"

Me: "I'm sure that you can."

D: (quietly)"But what if we can't?"

[Every now and then, my guardian angel speaks for me]

Me: "D., has anyone ever dropped out of our class?"

D: "Well, yeah."

Me: "Wasn't I here, doing the same thing we've always done?"

D: "Well, yeah!"

Me: "Did they make it?"

D: "No."

Me: [quietly] "Then, it wasn't just because of me, was it?"

[Sound of thinking]

D: "No."

And the teacher teaches one last lesson...

'Hold My Hand' documents disabled student's desire to attend SOU art class | MailTribune.com

What an inspired idea to make Eliza's story into a documentary! There is no better way than in our media-driven culture to tell a story worth telling. I would love to have a copy of the finished project, if only to show people what I keep talking about.

Well done, Eliza and filmmakers.

'Hold My Hand' documents disabled student's desire to attend SOU art class | MailTribune.com

Short hiatus

On a short break while I recover from surgery... I'll be back with an update from Disability and Higher Education and Partners in Policymaking.

Little things can do so much

I just read about this organization, founded in loving memory of a young lady with Apert's Syndrome -www.beyonddifferences.org. Lili keenly felt the sting of invisibility in her middle school years. We often forget that even if a person is not being teased, being quietly excluded takes its toll on the spirit, too.

Inclusion is more than a place...it's an attitude of the mind, heart, and spirit.

Adrian, the Aspiring Actor

Can always count on Facebook for ideas for blog posts. Hope you enjoy Adrian's story as much as I did.

I have been remiss!

But, remiss with good reason... I have been taking a graduate course (Disability in Higher Education) at Syracuse University and just began Partners in Policymaking New York with an online and in person component. So, I've been busy... but good busy. I'll be back when the dust settles a bit.