A pat on the back.....

[mamajoan]

The Medical Profession is filled with a wide variety of people. Their skills, personalities, empathy, and talents also vary. It is like any other career field. However, I strongly believe that the majority of medical professionals have chosen their career out of a sincere desire to help people. I also believe this is a correct assumption for those choosing a career in Special Education and Social Work. Parents of children with disabilities are given a special task by having to go the extra mile for their kids. Also, disabled people who have to fight the good fight on a daily basis! Realizing that there are many who struggle with the inadequacies of some of the above professions, I am requesting that you spread a little holiday cheer by acknowledging those who have helped you or your child along the way. Is there one person this year who has made a difference?
Personally, I would like to say a big Thank you to the Doc' who fought to save my legs by choosing not to amputate, when it seemed the only reasonable option.
God Bless!

 

[emmy]

I agree!Having a 4 1/2 year old son with disabilities I am just starting down this long road, but there have been some true angels placed along our path! The one that stands out most is his "main" project FLASH teacher, she has been a God send to our family and most of all to Chase! The day before thanksgiving I wrote a nice letter and copied it on some fancy printer paper and included it in a Thanksgiving gift to her, explaining how we were so thankful for her in his life! She actually cried reading it and told us how it made all the long hours and hard work worthwhile! Made us feel great too, to know that she knows how appreciated she is!

So thank you to all of those who dedicate their time and talents to helping others!

 

[SueM in MN]

Very nice thread.
Most people working with people with disabilities have chosen to do it because it IS rewarding to them and they are trying to do their best.

 

[s&k'smom]

Wow what a great thread. You are so right, my son has so many wonderful people in his life from his therapists to the bus driver's who take him to school. I am busy baking gifts as a thank you. We have been very lucky the right people for my DS seem to drift into his life all the time. True angels!

 

[teri]

Oh, there have been many people who have helped us over the years, it would be hard to single them out. One of the best was a language specialist who just believed that our son was "in there" and did not just let him drift along, as previous speech and language folks had done. And another was his inclusion aide that he had for 2 years who went on to become his regular classroom teacher in 2nd grade, who believed in his ability to learn and was determined not to just 'babysit' but to let him develop in the best possible learning environment. His current aide, who is so artistic and creative, and inspires wonderful creative play. And his current regular classroom teacher, who just KNOWS he can learn and has high expectations for him... these people just have a gift for teaching special needs kids. I could go on and on.... and that is a wonderful thing!

 

[SueOKW]

Kevin's new teacher this year is a dynamo!!! Honestly, she has him doing all kinds of new things! He is using a Xybernaut computer and they say he is doing GREAT!

As a matter of fact, some grants are being written, and he is going to be the demo kid sometime this Feb in Columbus. All this because his new teacher REALLY cares about her special ed kids.

Yep - it's a whole new year, new school - 5th grade now! Thank you God, for this teacher - she is a real blessing.

OH - and thank you all for being my friends when I'm down, or feeling too gloomy to face the new day!
Sue

 

[nancycels]

my daughters' track coach. he never treated them as though they were retarded,
he just included them in everything, very casually making accomodations when
they needed them. he was a tough coach, and some of my friends warned me not
to put the girls on the team because it would be 'too hard'. Thanks to this coach
and the other coaches on team(cross country, winter and spring track) my daughters
learned more in track, than they did in school! So much of the socialization process
that some special ed kids miss, they were happily included in. I'd also like to send
kudos to the team members who never made the girls feel unwanted. This was the
best experience the girls had in school, and all because a coach or two didn't let
their 'disability' become one, rather encouraged the 'abilities' they had! There isn't
a way to thank them enough.