Remembering the Overlooked.

Many times we forget that there are students on campus that are being overlooked by us. We do not realize that we are contributing greatly to the inequity among the diversity of our own community. I am referring to the special education students with mental disabilities. I decided to do my project on this because it was a great opportunity to be engaged in something that many of us who come to Washington and are interested in it, can make a big difference.
           
The first day I went to meet with Miss Deleon, the main instructor. I was amazed at how loving and polite many of the students were. When I entered the door, a student named Ethan asked, " Hi, what's your name, my name is Ethan, nice to meet you," It was such an incredible feeling... Throughout my first visit, I spoke to Miss Deleon about her program and she told me that she had been the one who had created the program and there was not any other one like it anywhere in the district. She also said that the administration was incredibly supportive with all the students. Miss Deleon explained to me that how when they first to get their students, many are illiterate and after some months of working with them, there are able to write paragraphs.
         
 I had the opportunity to observe their discussion during what they call the journal time. Miss Deleon asked of her students to write about what they like to do in hot weather, what are some of the problems(health wise) and how you can prevent them. Some of the students raised their hands and said things like swimming (as a fun activity) or even dehydration as a problem. The more I observed how well they could conversate, the more I realized the brightness of these students. I feel ignorant to say that many times I would hear people say or even I thought that most kids with mental disabilities were not capable of having their own thoughts or learning further than very basic thoughts. Now, these students have had impact on the way I think because throughout the time I observed them they were being cooperative, they were all being part of the discussion and they were unseasonably happy.
       
 On another visit, Miss Deleon explained how every single one of their students had a different learning, motor skill, or health need therefore without knowing she explained how she was working with what her other teachers to be equitable to them as much as possible. She provides each one with what they need so that one day they could become as independent as their disability could permit them to be. Some of her students have even received a certificate to move on to a higher adult level program.
         
When I left, all the kids were anxious to know when I would be back to visit and that made me realize how just by sitting and talking to these students can make a great difference.