Father Time Part 3

Good Morning.  I hope everyone had a good weekend!

We have all heard the saying "It takes a village to raise a child".  For a special needs child, we need a very compassionate and experienced village.  

As I wrote about in the last blog entry, times have indeed changed.  We have gone from special children being locked away in a corner classroom, to integrating them as much as possible in everyday interactions.  It's surely not perfect but it's moving in the right direction.

There is one surprising reason why we continue to grow into a more inclusive society: our young people.  Yes...those computer obsessed, twittering, tweeting, Facebooking, texting, little people are changing how we look at special needs.  Let me give you a few examples of what Tyler experienced:

Every school day Tyler was given some time in the gym to play some basketball.  He loved shooting hoops and getting some exercise time.  The school also asked for students to volunteer part of their lunch time to come play with him.  It became a popular activity with the kids, and eventually it got hard to fit everyone into the schedule.  Some of the young people let us know in different ways that they were touched by playing with him.  One such young man played on the basketball team.  At the end of his season he presented Tyler with his practice jersey as a gift.  Another peer group spent time in art class putting together a picture collage of Tyler's favorite activities, which has hung in his bedroom ever since.  Still another young man presented Tyler with a basketball picture frame with a personal note in it of how Tyler inspired him and his hopes for the best for him.  Truly amazing stuff from middle school age kids.

One young man was struggling somewhat in school, and he asked to be part of the group. Everyone decided that perhaps it would be good for him to have some contact with Tyler.  In the end, the boy was getting better grades and focusing harder so that he wouldn't let Tyler down.  

These are young people who gave up their own time to reach out to Tyler.  At this normally and naturally self-centered age, these kids put Tyler first.  They showed him incredible compassion by just making him feel "normal".  I believe they, and Tyler, will benefit from these relationships forever.

Tyler had never asked for fancy game systems, or a pony, or even cool clothes.  He has only ever asked to be loved and respected.  To him, a smile and a game of hoops is worth more than any worldly item.  These kids didn't spend a lot of money, but rather they understood that giving their time and attention was the most valuable thing.  They gave a personal jersey, a personalized picture frame, and their art talents to show him how important he is and how proud they were to be with him.  One boy decided to improve himself because he felt he needed to be a better example for Tyler.  

I am hopeful that our young people continue to show us the way.  After all, they will become the future doctors, nurses, therapists, teachers, and senators.  And the more they understand about their special needs peers, the more the world will continue to change.

Be well and God bless.   Tom