Two years ago my sister started working as a substitute teacher and on one of her assignments was placed in a special ed class, at a high school ,with severely handicapped children.While she was there the first day one of the kids had an accident and had to have his diaper changed.My sister insisted on helping to get him cleaned up and changed.The teacher of the special ed class asked if my sister would be willing to come back and be an aid and so she was an aid in the class for the past two years.My sister loved it there,she loved the children.I'm sad to say she had to stop working as an aid this school year and get a better paying job so she could support herself and her kids.
When I had Ruby I asked my sister if there was anyone in the class with Down syndrome.She said there was one girl with Ds in the class and that she had to be watched very closely because she would try and harm herself and the kids that were in wheelchairs that had limited movement and speech.This scared me when I heard it but then she told me that this girls parents were both attorney's and lived a couple hours away.They had placed their daughter in a group home because they were embarrassed of her.This girl has also been sexually assaulted.When I learned all of this it made me angry and I thought no wonder she acts out and bangs her head on the wall and tries to harm others weaker than herself.It makes me angry at her parents that they wouldn't want to protect her and love her or find a family that would.I can't stop thinking about her.
There is another girl with Ds in this school she lives with loving parents and she has all of her classes with her peers .
7 comments:
The contrast between the two little girls with Ds is quite startling -- and underlines the importance of acceptance and inclusion very well.
My heart hurts for her and other like her! Who does this to their child? I will be praying for her!
There are a lot of similarities between children with Ds and children without - both can be damaged if mistreated. This tells me that even though we make look and think differently, we have the same heartfelt needs which is to be loved and accepted.
Wow. I don't even know what to say. I'm glad you shared this though.
To me, it's like any child who has been abused. It shows that kids with DS are just like other kids. EVERY kid needs and deserves to be loved and treated well. Otherwise the act out.
That is heartbreaking.
Oh my!!! I am so angry at those parents, why wouldn't they have at least put her up for adoption so she could have had a loving family!!! So, sad, so unfair...I also will be praying for this little girl....I don't think I'll ever be able to get her out of my mind...........
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