Celebrating Diversity
July 15, 2009 by Paul Hamilton
Last week I co-taught a course on assistive technology to 43 teachers. Packing a full-semester course into 5 days made for an intense but rewarding experience. We introduced Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as the pedagogical framework for understanding and implementing assistive technology. Then, using Ira Socol’s “toolbelt theory“, we encouraged the teachers to think in terms of helping to equip all learners with a “toolbelt” of digital tools to serve as effective life solutions. Class members were impressed by the range of free tools that are readily available to anyone.
I want to share a video put together by one of the teachers who was enrolled in our course. Myriah relates her personal journey in overcoming some of her learning challenges. I find the arrogant ignorance of some of Myriah’s college teachers appalling. How do you respond?
Celebrating Diversity from myriahmichaux on Vimeo.
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appalling? of course, but sadly typical. The response I’ve seen in a doctoral program on Special Education varies only slightly http://speedchange.blogspot.com/2008/04/humiliation-and-modern-professor.html
But cheers to Myriah. She’ll be the kind of teacher we need
I was one of the 43 teachers at Paul’s week long course. My colleague Shawna and I worked our way through the Wikis that were created by the students in the class and we were touched by Myriah’s story. This vimeo is just as inspired.
We need to knock down the sides of that box we try to fit everyone in. I think that Myriah’s determination in the face of discrimination is amazing.
Certainly, having a teacher who navigated herself through the system and achieved so much would be inspiring for kids with similar challenges. I know that I connect with students with behaviour challenges because I supposedly found sitting and staying focused challenging through school.
Myriah as the kids would say, “you rock”. Now lets blow up the box.
xxx
Grania
I hope that Myriah is teaching. How wonderful for kids to have a teacher that really does understand what they are going through.
I am a special education teacher but I mentor teachers in mainstream who express an interest in helping kids with special needs. I think there are a lot more of those kind of teachers in schools now thean there were when I first started teaching 20 years ago.
We still have a long way to go ( in Australia) until all teachers are given a good background in supporting kids with learning challenges before they even leave university and more time needs to be spent updating teachers who are already in the workforce.
I am aslo saddened by the fact that so many kids with learning challenges spend thier schooling being taught by teacher assistants instead of qualified teachers. I love my teacher aides and wouldn’t want to be without them but it is not right that the most needy kids are being taught by the least qualified people.
I hope Myriah has an opportunity to share her video with the faculty at the education school she attended. The attitude that she encountered is too pervasive, “if they just tried harder…..”
Personal stories impact people. Stories such as Myriah’s need to be heard.
Thank her for letting you share her video.