Disability




	Write 2 The Heart January 20, 2005 Welcome to your latest issue of Write 2 the Heart. Take a moment to browse our new bookstore at: http://www.write2theheart.com/html/book_store.html You will find wonderful books written, or include stories by many of our talented writers. You will also find books that aide the budding writer. I highly recommend “Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Guide,” and “2005 Writer’s Market.” Both are must haves for all serious writers. They are great tools to find that perfect market for your writing. Ellie gave of herself and was blessed. Her special students taught her patience and to look deeper into an individual. A Bit of A Disability By: Ellie Braun-Haley When I first began working with individuals who have disabilities I was already working for a College teaching dance, jazz, ballet and creative movement. It all started when I received a phone call from a lady who was looking for a private dance tutor to work with a young girl with mental disabilities. She said that the young woman seemed to really love music. I agreed to do it. I soon realized one-on-one classes really depleted the energy of both teacher and student. I rang up the guardian of my student and commented, "This would work better in a group setting." Within a day, she called back to say, "Okay, I have three more students for you!" In a short time, I had thirty teens and adults up to the age of 40, all with mental disabilities. It was virgin territory for me. I was a dance instructor with no experience in working with people who had disabilities. It was I who was feeling handicapped. I approached a colleague at the college and asked him if I should sign up for one of his classes to learn more about mental disabilities. He said, "No, I wouldn't do that if I were you. If you come to my classes I am going to tell you all the things these people cannot do. But if you go forward and attempt to teach them what you know, in your own area of expertise, with an expectation for them to do it, many of them will succeed." Since he was the expert, I decided to take his advice. I soon came to realize that my students were just people. They had their own personalities, skills, and abilities. Each person was unique, just like my regular dance students. I had students who learned quickly and others who had the two left feet. To each class I took with me my love of dancing and music. When I didn't succeed at getting something across with one approach, I searched for a new approach. Sometimes all it took was making a comparison with something familiar. That was the case with Sara, who spent more time looking at her feet than anywhere in the room. I spent the first three classes just getting Sara to trust me. She loved the music we were working with yet she often seemed frozen onto one spot on the floor. On one occasion I had demonstrated the movement of an arm and Sara looked up at me quite puzzled. "Sara, the movement is like a propeller on a small airplane." I told her. Sara knew airplanes and as she connected the idea of a propeller with her arms she looked at me and slowly a grin started. She became eager to continue and no longer was she riveted to that one spot. Sara began to really dance. The students found pleasure in seeing others succeed. They cheered one another with each small success so that each new move learned was a victory for all of us. I think we all felt the emotion of Stuart's success. Stuart loved music. He was spirited and enthusiastic from his first day but putting two moves together frustrated Stuart because as hard as he tried, things seemed to get confused between his feet and his desire. Stuart would repeat the dance steps out loud with me as if his feet would be more encouraged by the sound of his voice. The first time Stuart tasted success was a special moment for everyone. "I did it, I did it, I did it," he repeated over and over, rejoicing to himself and all his classmates. With tears in his eyes and a huge leap in the air, Stuart provided a Kodak moment for everyone. Michael was one student who reminded me that we all learn differently. He had been in one of my classes for a year and a half. He was a constant problem. He never participated and he never spoke to me once in all that time. I just allowed him space. On this one occasion I had been teaching a partner dance to the class. We had worked on it many weeks and that day I said my usual, "Okay, everybody choose a partner." I was startled to see Michael suddenly in front of me, his arms outstretched to me. I said, "Michael, you want to dance with me?" Not only did Michael speak to me and respond with the word yes, he knew every move. During all that time Michael had been learning, on the sidelines, in his own way. My students taught me patience. I learned that sometimes one small achievement is really a most wondrous feat. With Andrew I learned that things are not always as they seem. Andrew also took a long time to learn things. The pathways in his brain do not always lead him to the same conclusions as others. He did not communicate with me verbally. He never gave me eye contact nor did he give me any indication that he knew I was alive. He seemed to have little understanding that he was in a class and that there were expectations. He sat a lot and nodded his head, making humming noises. When it came to Andrew I felt like a failure as a teacher. I searched for ways to reach him, to see some indication he was receiving the instruction or that he liked something about the class. I didn't think I was succeeding. One day Andrew's parents met me shopping downtown and told me that they were so grateful that I was teaching the class at the College. They said that my class was the high point of their son's week. I was confused. How on earth could they tell that Andrew liked the class? I wondered if they were merely being courteous. A week later, a blizzard held me up and I was later than usual pulling into the school parking lot. As I stepped out, I noticed Andrew and his worker also getting out of a car. For the first time I saw the ebullience in Andrew's face. His body language told me of his excitement. Finally I could see what his parents saw- an animated Andrew! He ran toward the building in anticipation of his class. Because Andrew didn’t generally display his emotions in the same way as others I had jumped to a conclusion that I was failing him as a teacher. I'm so glad no one told me years earlier that my students could not learn more and would never learn to dance. Because of my colleagues advice I never gave up believing that I could reach Sara and Michael and Stuart and Andrew and all the others who have come since. In accepting that first challenge many years ago I opened a door into a new world. Bringing the joys of dance and movement to my students has blessed my life beyond measure. Ellie Braun-Haley shaley @ telusplanet.net Ellie worked with adults and children with disabilities until late 2003. Today, she designs programs for young children six years and younger as she works on her second book of stories on Heavenly Intervention. Her first book of Heavenly Intervention stories, “A Little Door, A Little Light,” includes stories of help from angels, deathbed visions and more. You can find it at amazon.com You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know what you think of their story. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator @ write2theheart.com Write 2 the Heart now has an affiliate program with Cognigen. They have several long distance plans to chose from. I personally use the PowerNet Global 4.5¢ Per Minute Plan. I love having my own toll free number without the monthly fee; I only pay for actual calls. My family can call home whenever they are out of town. I have used it more times than I care to remember over the last three years in emergency situations. Cognigen has more than just great long distance rates; they have calling cards, internet access, web hosting services and much more. You can check out all of their telecommunication products and services at http://ld.net/?cbspeir. Looking for an affiliate program? You will be surprised at all the products and services you will have access to. Letters From Our Readers What a sweet story by Molly Lemmons. The tragedies of health and related issues seem to stand out in our minds, and polio was such a scary thing back in the 40's. I had a girl friend whose Mother had it, but she wasn't as fortunate as Molly's sister. She had to use a wheel chair and didn't get out much. I'm so happy Molly's Mother took matters into her own hands and did what needed to be done to help her child heal. Diane White Military Prayer Reminder As you read over this list of names, please take a moment to pray for these young people and their families: Chris Speir Tim Speir Alan Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Eric Hernandez Kristin Danielson Ryan Larry Miele Daniel Amy John Joanne Gary Boardwine Josh Hadassah Chanz Wackerly Robert Henderson David Habighurst Tonia Melissa Bair Matthew Nutter Nick Nation Seth Jarrell Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military, or who are being called to go overseas, send their names (first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer reminder. Copyright © 2005, Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.