WEEK 8 6164

My goals:
1.       My professional plan is to obtain my Master’s degree in Early Childhood Studies Teaching and Diversity.  This is my first step in learning more about diversity in a general sense.  I hope that this course helps me realize any unconscious biases and assist me in overcoming them.   
2.      I plan to become a developmental therapist (for a local First Steps program) for children who exhibit developmental delay from birth to age three.  As a developmental therapist for First Steps, I will be providing therapy in the child’s home.  It is important that I learn about working with a diverse population because the families may be culturally, linguistically, or socio-economically diverse.   My goal for this course is to learn how to establish a good rapport with a diverse population of families who exhibit a variety of differences.    
3.      I plan to become involved with the About Special Kids (A.S.K.) support group for parents of children with special needs.  I believe that this role will help me build positive rapport with the families that I work with because I will be able to point the families in the right direction for their specific needs.  My goal for this course is to learn more about cultural responses to having a child with special needs.      

I currently stay at home with my young children.  I hope to teach them to be proud of who they are while respecting differences in others.  However, my role as a developmental therapist will enable me to help children develop skills and learn at their own pace.  I also hope to empower families by teaching them about the laws pertaining to special education.  Hopefully this knowledge will ease the transition from early intervention to preschool.  My role as a developmental therapist will give unique advantages by placing me in their home, letting me see more closely family interactions and dynamics, allowing me to see the setting in which they will be using the interventions, and allowing me to see diversity first hand. 

Thank you all so much for the feedback, experiences, and knowledge that you passed on during this class.  I have learned so much.  I hope that by learning about diversity, I can start by realizing my own biases, teach my own children loving and accepting others, and promote acceptance of differences in others. 

My diverse family...change can start with us!  Loving differences and encouraging loving others!!!

BEST WISHES!!!

WEEK 7 (6164): Social Justice/Equity

French Guiana is an overseas region of France located off the coast of South America. It has borders with two nations: Brazil and Suriname. Cayenne is the capital..
A large part of the department's economy derives from the presence of a European Space Agency's primary launch site. 
French Guiana is home to many unique and important ecosystems: tropical rainforests, savannahs, and wetlands.  It is dependent of subsidies from France.
The main industry is fishing, gold mining, and timber. 
The dominant religion is Catholicism. 
Ways to be prepared:
*I think that it is crucial for the first meeting to know the family's primary language.  This would be important to know if a translator is needed.
*It might also be important to have a large room with extra seats in case the extended family or siblings are present at the meeting.
*I also think that it would be helpful to incorporate learning about other cultures that surround the country that the child could share some insight.  Books about these countries would be nice to read. 
*It would also be important to know if the child or family requires a special diet due to medical issues or cultural differences. 
*It is important to have an open-mind when becoming prepared for the new family.  No two families are alike and it is important to learn first hand about the family.

Being open-minded is important so the family is put first.  Their goals for their child are important and essential in establishing a good rapport.  It is also important to also provide the family with information about yourself, the rules in your room, the school guidelines, cafeteria menu, and contact information.  Make yourself available to the family to help ease their transition. 

ALL FAMILIES ARE DIFFERENT...DIFFERENCES CAN BE BEAUTIFUL!!!

The Personal Side of Biases, Prejudice, and Oppression

While I was in college studying to be a special education teacher, I had the opportunity to work with a young boy with cerebral palsy over the summer.  It was a wonderful experience.  This experience made me aware of some of the biases that people hold against people with special needs.  Mason and I worked on social skills, letter sounds, math skills, and other academic skills.  One day, I took Mason to Chuck E. Cheese for a reward for learning some new letter sounds consistantly and for good behavior.  He was so excited!  After he ate his pizza, he was full of energy.  He wanted to play a skeball game.  While he was playing, a few of the balls went on another lane.  A parent of another child, yelled at Mason and called him stupid.  I was furious.  Mason did not really notice that she was yelling at him, but was very sad when she called him stupid.  I told Mason loudly in front of the lady that not everyone is nice and that he was very smart.  I also told the manager about the lady's behavior.  Mason got 500 extra tickets and was thrilled.  However, this experience still makes me angry.  One would think that an adult would not speak to or about a child in that way.  This showed me that children are not born biased, but learn by example. 
This experience was eye opening.  It made me want to advocate for the children that I worked with.  Children may not have equal abilities, but should be treated fairly and respected.

That summer, I also took Mason to the pool quite frequently.  While most of the parents were very nice to Mason, some parents did try to avoid us or glanced at us with pity in their eyes.  This is a look that I have noticed even with my own son.  When he wears his leg braces in public, some people stare.  I do not mind if children ask questions.  I feel that if I answer their questions that they can receive unbiased answers and help promote acceptance.  However, some adults act like they have no concept of differences.  They stare or even avoid contact with Owen.  In these instances, I often have Owen say "hi" to them...he is always so smiley!  I feel that this shows them that he is a sweet little boy and is nothing to be "afraid" of.   HOW COULD SOMEONE JUDGE AND NOT LOVE THIS ADORABLE FACE???