We are all disabled

Have you ever been with a disabled person and it seems as though when you walk by all eyes are on you? Sometimes I dont know if its ignorance or just plain curiosity, but the fact that I have an ample amount of interaction with people with many different types of disabilities has shown me how uneducated some people are when it comes to disabilities. In all actuallity we are all disabled. No one is perfect and for that reason it really bothers me when people in public point or stare at someone who appears to be "different."

I feel as though everyone should educate themselves on disabilites and people should educate their children as well. It is ok to have questions, just as it is ok to not understand. But when the situation arises people should take time to try to understand. Everyone is different and no matter how different a person may be physically or mentally everyone desereves to be treated with the same level of respect.

Individualism

I think it is so important for people to be individuals. I feel that this is so because everyone was born as an individual so why would you want to make yourself like someone else? Indivualism, which can also be defined as independence is seen in society as a positive aspect. Many people subject themeselves to collectivism which means that decisions are made in a group setting or they are made for them.

Although at times it is ok to "go with the flow" the majority of the time it is best to try to be the leader of the pack. As a person who strives to be myself and not conform to others beliefs or views, I feel that my indivualism has shaped the person I have become today. As a teacher I will stress the importance of not conforming to the beliefs of other people and doing only what it is that you believe in.

Podcast

Before my enrollment in educational media I had no idea what a podcast was. As the semester progressed I became more familiar with them. I actually found that I enjoyed podcasts. Podcast are not difficult to do. If I could figure them out then anyone could. It is a way to interact with your peers as well as a way to learn your peers views on certain ideas. Podcasts are a great learning tool. They are also one more aspect of technology that I feel that I have mastered. As future teachers, many of the podcasts that we have done have helped in one way or another. Podcasts have also become a way that people correspond with one another. As a teacher I feel that podcasts will be a great tool for my classroom.

"Be Your Best Self"

Be your best self is a national campaign for "Americas Junior Miss." Be your best self is a great example of the level of self esteem and confidence that everyone should have in todays society. The saying, "be your best self" is a way to empower ones self as well as others. The program encourages young people to portray five aspects,be Healthy, be Studious, be Responsible, be Ambitious, and be Involved. These are all tools that will be used throughout the duration of your life. As a teacher I would encourage all of my students to portray all five of the positive aspects and always encourage them to "be their best selves."

Technology in the Special Education Classroom

I am a firm believer that every disabled student should have the proper access to the neccessary technology that is conducive to their learning experience. It is my opinion that no matter what the severity of the disability a child should have the same learning experience as their non disabled peers.

There are many modern technology devices that can help a student who is physically or mentally disabled. Technology for a disabled student may be as simple as an etch a sketch, for a student with muscular dystropy or as complicated as a voice recorder for a non verbal student.

Many people belive that if a child is unable to completely function like their non disabled peers then they should just be put in school and only given the minimum level of education. The use of modern technology proves that is not true. Technolgy has shown that a student who may not have learned otherwise is capable of using technology as a means to learning.