Diversity, Again
It is Diversity that identifies what is different between individuals, groups, regions, countries, and so on. Noticing differences in an individual is validating his/her uniqueness. Without observing and identifying differences, the old pass-time of "people watching" would be as interesting as counting sheep or watching the sidewalk.
It is when those differences are used to sort human beings into categories. The primary purpose of these categories is to rate the value of the individual in each category. The most significant example of this is the intellegence test. People's lives are rated by the likelyhood of success. Then the educational system works overtime to prove the ratings accurate. These tests carry extreme power over the course of an other wise talented individual. The examiner is telling the individual tested, "You are defective, and I am not. I define what is 'abnormal' and that is you."
The other day my wife, daughter, and I spoke with a handsome 20 year old young man (K.G.) who we had known for several years. I knew that he had been labeled ADHD and that things were sometimes difficult for him. Many people around him considered him a troublemaker mostly because of his difficulty with social cues. I told him about my own mis-diagnosis of ADHD and my recent rediagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome or HFA (high functioning autism). His said that he had also be correctly rediagnosed with HFA. His story made me want to cry, scream, rip apart a few of our "esteemed" local school district officials. The school psychologist that had worked with K.G. for several years told him on several occasions that he would never amount to anything and that he would never graduate from school. The principal told him basically the same thing. When he did graduate from high school, he went back with his diploma and shoved it in the face of the school psychologist and the principal. He is now attending an community college and working as a chef (not a cook) for a very fine restaurant at an exclusive resort in the San Bernardino Mountains.
With the support of his family, he literally had to defy and challenge those whose job it was to enable him to succeed. Not every one has that kind of courage to take those opposing him by the horns and throwing them out of his way!
In this anecdote, who are the "disabled" and who is the "abled"?
There are many stories to tell about those with the least resources having to make the greatest effort to succeed.
It is when those differences are used to sort human beings into categories. The primary purpose of these categories is to rate the value of the individual in each category. The most significant example of this is the intellegence test. People's lives are rated by the likelyhood of success. Then the educational system works overtime to prove the ratings accurate. These tests carry extreme power over the course of an other wise talented individual. The examiner is telling the individual tested, "You are defective, and I am not. I define what is 'abnormal' and that is you."
The other day my wife, daughter, and I spoke with a handsome 20 year old young man (K.G.) who we had known for several years. I knew that he had been labeled ADHD and that things were sometimes difficult for him. Many people around him considered him a troublemaker mostly because of his difficulty with social cues. I told him about my own mis-diagnosis of ADHD and my recent rediagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome or HFA (high functioning autism). His said that he had also be correctly rediagnosed with HFA. His story made me want to cry, scream, rip apart a few of our "esteemed" local school district officials. The school psychologist that had worked with K.G. for several years told him on several occasions that he would never amount to anything and that he would never graduate from school. The principal told him basically the same thing. When he did graduate from high school, he went back with his diploma and shoved it in the face of the school psychologist and the principal. He is now attending an community college and working as a chef (not a cook) for a very fine restaurant at an exclusive resort in the San Bernardino Mountains.
With the support of his family, he literally had to defy and challenge those whose job it was to enable him to succeed. Not every one has that kind of courage to take those opposing him by the horns and throwing them out of his way!
In this anecdote, who are the "disabled" and who is the "abled"?
There are many stories to tell about those with the least resources having to make the greatest effort to succeed.
Labels: Disability
posted by Arthur Seale at 10:47 PM
2 Comments:
It is a very good thing that one test is not supposed to be the sole determiner in how an IEP team responds to how special ed. services are or are not delivered to individuals in our school systems.
This is a continuation of the prior response dated 11-27-06 at 7:46p.m. I'm interested in all valid assessments that will focus on areas that students are having difficulty in any aspect of their curriculum. Sp. ed. services are designed to help students lesson the gap that exists that has brought them into services in the first place. HELP OUR STUDENTS :)
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