Student advocacy (one example)

I work with children with various disabilities. At school we try to teach the kids academics and social skills and hopefully an ability to self advocate and have meaningful relationships with others.

It is an uncomfortable reality that many special needs kids are exploited intellectually, socially and sexually.


One of our kiddos is pretty good about protesting (sometimes loudly!) or telling us what he needs. He also tells other students if they are too loud.
 He self-advocates.
Today he went above and beyond...He stood up for another student against a bully!
He was fearful but when it was time to speak up he was a hero! And the bully backed down. We are very proud of him. This is an amazing accomplishment for a student with social skills deficits.
It is one thing to stand up for yourself...and a much higher level of social awareness to stand up for someone else.
He is clearly on his way to overcoming that disability!

I created...

A powerpoint today for one of my students to help him visualize his behaviors. It was very successful and I was able to generalize it to tasks we did all morning! He even told me he was feeling "a red thing"....(red zone). It was great!

My Resume!

I am constantly looking for opportunities to learn new skills related to special education and advocacy. Contact me if you think I have skills that would benefit your business or program.
https://sites.google.com/site/heatherellenshinn/

A great quote...

"people with disabilities don't want to be fixed...they are not broken"

liveworkplayvideo A short film about the self-advocacy civil rights movement, starring people with intellectual disabilities.

Voices Of Our Region

Frustrated...

When advocate parents do more harm than good because they can not see the bigger picture and others involved.

Realities of being an Educational Assistant

Hello again!  (Finally!)

I'm on summer vacation which is coming to an end soon.  On one hand I am sad to give up my free time and hanging out with my kids.  On the other hand, I do not get paid to stay home!   This has raised some controversy in my personal life and work life.  I have worked in the developmental learning center (DLC) of an elementary school for 10 years.  I have learned SO much and I like the job. I feel like I make a positive difference to kids and the school. The hours work well for my family. I am near the top of the pay scale for my classification.  I get health insurance and some paid vacation and holidays and a few sick days.  Doesn't sound controversial at all! (truly!) I should be grateful to have such a job. (I am most of the time)

The other reality of this situation is I go broke every time we have Christmas, spring, or summer breaks.  Times of the year that should be relaxing and meaningful put my stomach in a knot.  The months that I work all the hours available and receive a decent paycheck...goes to recovery of the months that I couldn't pay all of our bills or repair my car or buy toilet paper.  Every summer I have to apply for food stamps...and I qualify!  My kids get free meals at school.  I have had to find local agencies to help me pay my rent.  Now I am on public housing.  The rent includes utilities and appliances.  Sometimes I can't pay that, either.   I do not qualify for unemployment during the summer (a union/school/state controversy that is in debate).  I am under employed.  (a very uncomfortable and sometimes depressing situation)

This job was GREAT as a supplemental income when I first started.  But since then...separation and divorce has made this my primary income and the small alimony (which ended last December :| ) and child support check is my supplement (when he was working). 

Another reality of this situation is  inequality among co-workers, a division between licensed staff (teachers and administrators) and classified staff (Educational assistants and all other support personnel).  Every year we have to prove our competence to teach and interact with children.  Our ideas and suggestions are often dismissed or overlooked.  We have a diverse range of training and skills that are barely utilized.  When we do shine...people are often surprised or amazed.  Sometimes, even offended.  Unfortunately, this rift spills over into the community.  Parents' (although, some parents are very aware and supportive!) perception of what an EA does for their children is very inaccurate.   Often EA's are appreciated for the relief we give to other staff...but rarely do I feel valued for my contributions and knowledge base.

Now another school year is beginning.  School funding is sketchy and the district has already cut days, programs, and positions.  Our out-of-pocket insurance premiums are doubling while the benefits are shrinking.  This year (I found out last week) I will be working 3 hours at the elementary school and 4 hours at the Post High (a young adult life skills center).  Probably commuting on my lunch break (fortunately its a small town and that won't be too terrible).   

But I  wrestle with the question:  Is the turmoil of this job becoming too great to enjoy the reward of teaching and helping students?

Don't you dare take away my technology!

This is just a thought I had today....

Several years ago I was listening to a college lecture about disabilities.  One of the audience members shared an experience with the class.  He (I don't recall his name) went to the office of disabilities in another university when he first started his college career.  He did not disclose  his diagnosis but he is in a wheel chair and used various devices for note-taking and scheduling.  The counselor in the disabilities office was telling him about all the services they provide and that they would help him become more self reliant and not have to use technology so much.  He was so upset!  "Don't you dare take away my technology!  Its what makes it so I CAN attend college!  I like my technology....its easy and comfortable.  You wouldn't take away a persons glasses or cane if that's what they like to use."  I hadn't ever thought about that.

 In my work we teach kids how to be independent and how to use technology.  But sometimes we teach them how to do things without technology....which actually takes away some of their independence.  The goal shouldn't be to wean a person away from technology but teach them how to become more efficient with it. 

One example of this happens at the elementary level....we teach children to write with pencils.  A fine skill but at what point do we stop scoring penmanship and start focusing on the writing process?   You know, making sentences and lists and what not, to communicate with people?  Many children would probably prefer to use a word program or a device like an 'alpha smart' to get their ideas out.

Children with fine motor issues (gripping, poor muscle tone, etc) might be more successful with writing if given the proper tools and training.  And then....Let them keep their technology!  Or at least give them the choice to keep it.  What seems inconvenient to us might not be inconvenient to that person. 
Its just a thought I had today.

Racial harassment alleged duringarrest of young autistic man

Racial harassment alleged during<br />arrest of young autistic man

This is a really interesting, frustrating, appalling, GAHHHH, piece of news. From a disabilities advocate standpoint, I think Neli's mom is right in wanting to get an ID bracelet to alert people of his disability. As parents, we want our kids to lead normal lives, advocate for themselves, and NOT be labeled.

But the reality is children with disabilities become adults with disabilities. They are subject to the same laws, social rules, and standards of courtesy, and ridicule, racism, profiling, sexual exploitation, etc. We cannot be with them in every aspect of their adult lives to ensure they are treated fairly or with understanding. Our disabled children will most likely out live us...who will "take care" of them then?

My suggestion is to parents, guardians, and caregivers: be realistic with early interventions, social space and courtesy. Even children and adults with social disorders can learn to act appropriately in order to avoid exploitation, illegal activities, or scare others accidentally, just to name a few. They need to be taught to check in with a care giver before going out alone. They should have some way of communicating with caregivers when they are out and about. They should have some ID to alert the public of their disability and a phone number of a caregiver. (this is also good policy in case they are ever injured and too distraught to cooperate with police, or receive medical attention).
They need to be told "no" so later in life its not a shock to them when it comes from someone else.

The further tragedy in this story is that Neli may have been racially profiled and harassed by officers. Additionally, he was sent to jail. There he acted like an autistic person...withdrawn, confused, irritable and was sent for mental evaluation. He is 18. No one has to ask for parental consent or tell the parent anything. This boy, who is diagnosed with Autism, may end up institutionalized because he might not recover from the trauma and ignorance from this single experience!

Singing the praises of Shriners Children's Hospital

My oldest son is a patient of Shriner's Children's Hospital in Portland, OR. He is soon to be an alumni because he just graduated high school and will turn 18 in July! Shriner's is a wonderful service for children 18 and under.

So...a little background.

Without Shriners' treatments, my son would have limited if any mobility in his legs. He has hemi-diplegia which is cerebral palsey (CP) that affects one half of the body. In my sons case it was his legs primarily. We tried braces when he was very little but later opted for corrective surgery. He ended up having 9 total! At no cost to us because of generous public donations to the hospital and Shriners fundraising events.

When I asked my son if he thought it was a good experience he said,

"Shriners itself is amazing. They were always really thorough and took
good care of me and were always positive. The surgeries gave me the
opportunity to be "normal" (he did air quotes lol).....without the surgeries I
wouldn't have been able to take a PE class, and all that stuff with my peers and
probably would have been in a special ed room. People [who see my scars] ask
what's up and I tell them and everyone's pretty cool about it. There's
always some [jerks] who ask dumb questions or who think I'm
retarded. During the [puberty years] it used to make me
mad...but now I just walk away
from those people."

Other than scars on his legs and a lift in his right shoe most people would never know he has CP. He is planning on becoming a chef! I am looking forward to some good eats. :)

My first post! Off the top of my head

Ten things some people aren't aware of about children with disabilities

1. Children with disabilities have abilities, too!


2. There are many children in our schools who are undiagnosed or untreated. They are mainstreamed and expected to "keep up with the norm"


3. Many many children with severe and profound birth defects or injuries are capable of making decisions for themselves....if given the correct tools.


4. School programs teach kids how to be in school...not necessarily how to be appropriate citizens.


5. Many children with poor social behaviors can be taught appropriate social behaviors. It is the most loving thing you can do...to teach a child to be able to go to dinner, museums, galleries, movies (if they can handle the noise, etc), parks, carnivals or even the grocery store. What a fulfilling life they can have with family and even FRIENDS!


6. Often...but not always, children with disabilities come from parents with similar disabilities.


7. Families of children with disabilities go through the grief process...grief of what their child could have accomplished, fear of the future, loss of "a normal" child experience, anger, resentment, etc.


8. Children of all abilities do better with consistent boundaries and expectations than without. People often excuse behaviors because they think the child isn't able to live up to expectations. This is a myth.
9. The term 'retarded' doesn't mean 'unable to learn'. Not all people with disabilities are mentally retarded.
10. I have learned a tremendous amount from my students. They are humorous, loving, capable, and stubborn....just like me! Just like my co-workers!