Setting the Bar

Setting the bar

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By Katherine Aguilar

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There are many times that society has placed the bar so low for special needs children. They give up on the children before they even give them a chance to get started. Many think a special needs child has been or is one of the smartest children in the world. The ones that were actually given the opportunity to show themselves. They were the ones in this world to make the biggest impact.

If you have a child with special needs, don’t count them out before they get started, nor should the school system. Give them the chance to prove themselves. I could list a few of the world's smartest people to prove my point. Albert Einstein, Temple Grandin, Elon Musk, Adhara Perez Sanchez, and Stephen Hawking. They are and were people whom people have scrambled just to be in their circle or to reach the level of success of these few special-needs people. The list is very long.

We should ensure that people with special needs are given opportunities to succeed in the future.

I heard news about a young man who has Tourette's syndrome. His parents knew he could make it. They learned how to deal with it. He has managed to use all the syndromes to his advantage. He takes all the energy and reactions that he gets and puts them into buying a small business. He is only eighteen years old. He started as the dishwasher. He does all the roles at the small restaurant. From order taker, to chef, to cleaner, and manager. He does it all by himself. He said whenever he gets an episode. He uses it for the business. His little business is doing so well. He managed to buy himself a house. That is an example of a person with special needs who people didn’t count out before he had a chance. When you see someone struggling, whether they are special needs or not. Give them a chance. Do not count them out. Let them try and try and try until they are satisfied with the result or happy to the level they have reached.

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To have them accept failure at the beginning of their lives is so heartbreaking. It is as if they were not counted as humans. The lives of children and adults with special needs make a difference in this world. Believe me. Do your own research, and you will be surprised how the list goes on. Who knows, one of these days you may actually want to be one of the people on that list.

It was in a special needs class a few years back, and I was teaching the students colors. I added it to be a little challenging for them. I was teaching them in English and Spanish. The teacher said they don’t know Spanish. I told them I was going to give it a try. After working with the students, going back and forth in English and Spanish over and over again. They were able to pick up the colors in English and some Spanish. I knew they could do it. I am sure. If I were longer in the class. Longer than a day would know it a 100%. Will they ever use Spanish? I don’t know. But while they are ready if ever in their life it comes their way. Yes. Or will they be able to understand some of what a person is talking about? Yes. Pushing the bar a bit on special needs while teaching them something new. Opens up a new brain wave that they hadn’t been taught to use, allowing for additional learning potential.

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Help set the bar higher for those who need it.

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