Encouraging those with special needs

There are a lot of people who are parents of children with special needs. There are parents who also adopt children with special needs after already given birth to their own children. Those who have special needs both adult & children want to have an opportunity like everyone else to get a good education and have job opportunities. I'm going to tell y'all a little story about what it was like for me. I hope this will encourage both children and adults with special needs.

I am going to tell my readers off the bat, that from the time I started Kindergarten 'till the 2nd grade I was taken out of the different teacher's classes. The problem was that the teachers doubted that I could do the work and keep pace with the fellow classmates in my classes in Kindergarten-2nd grade. The different teachers tried to say I was a slow learner because I wasn't the quickest learner or the smartest grades wise. However, I always let their comments help me to stay motivated. Believe it or not those very discouraging and hurtful comments that people said about me was what motivated me and I never gave up. After I stayed back in 2nd grade at 8, I was taken out of Special Education and put in Ms. Bloom's 2nd grade class. Ms. Bloom had her doubts about me because Ms. Bloom never dealt with a kid who came from Special Ed and Ms. Bloom didn't know if I could keep pace with the rest of her 2nd grade class. As a kid I was all too familiar with hearing the word "can't" and my mom ( a single mom of seven all boys) was all too familiar with coming down to my school and telling the different teacher's off when I'm proving them wrong. I will never forget the meeting that Ms. Bloom, my mom, the principal, and I had. The principal said these very words to my teacher Ms. Bloom, "It's your job to make sure that every student in your class get up to the level where they all need to be and Paul need to be given that chance. If you don't shape up and fly right and help Paul be up to the level that he needs to be then you are out of here!" Ms. Bloom never heard anything like that before but it was what she needed to hear. The words "You're fired!" stuck in her head to where she changed her attitude about me. I remember the fun we had in Ms. Bloom's class going on the different field trips, having parties, watching really good movies, as well as watching good educational shows. Most importantly, I remember how far I've come in Ms. Bloom's class and progressed tremendously. I will never forget June of 1987 when Ms. Bloom was handing out awards to her students. I was 9 and perhaps the absolute biggest surprise was receiving a Super Award for Most Improved student. I do believe that my fellow classmates were more excited for me receiving my award than they were for receiving their award or awards. I was in awe as well as surprised to receive such an award & I was grateful to pass to the 3rd grade along with most of my fellow classmates!

That little story about me above is the reason why I never let what people said to me discourage me. Those with special needs want to be encouraged that he or she "can do anything if they put their mind to do it!" Those words of encouragement and being patient is what children and adults with special needs need. If you're a single parent (just mom or just dad) or parents (both mom & dad) to children (both your own children and adopted children) instill that he or she "can do anything if they put their mind to do it." Whether you were ridiculed & made fun of not when you were in school, you need to do your part by subjecting children with special needs in an environment that is devoted to helping him or her achieve their personal goals. I hope all of my readers enjoy!