Something So Small To Make A Difference

While I lived in Ireland part of my college course was to work in the area of children with special needs. I was selected to work in a school with children with disabilities. I had numerous rooms to choose from, such as down syndrome, autistic, and cerebral palsy. I chose to work in the room that was apart from the school. Children aged 5-16 with severe disabilities. They had no speech and most were in a wheelchair.

The teacher of that room asked if I would work one on one with one girl who had symptoms of epilepsy, autism, and other brain development disabilities. She was 15 years old. At her school they would think that just by being able to zip up her own coat was an achievement. I saw more in her. She always wanted to put string through the shaped blocks to make a necklace. For the 5 years she was in the school the teachers always tried to help her but always ended up doing all the work. I knew this smart girl could do more and so I encouraged her.

She had a thumb which she could not move but I encouraged her so much to try. She got very upset most days and sometimes I wanted to quit. Eventually after a week this young girl was able to do what she had been wanting to do by herself for so many years. Her teacher cried when she saw what this girl was able to do with just some encouragement.

People with disabilities should never be told that they can't. We are all human and with just some encouragement we can do anything. It may be done a different way than others. The look on that girls face when she was able to do it herself meant the world to me. I wish everyone would encourage people rather then telling them they can't or do it for them.

Submitted by Anonymous

Encouragement