Re-Examination

After participating in my community-based experience at Lakeshore Middle School I have learned so much about the education of students with disabilities in the public school system, the personal challenges they face, and the academic issues which they have no control over. 

Prior to this experience I remember feeling excited but nervous, as I didn’t have much experience in the field.  I also recognized the assumptions that a majority of the community held regarding individuals with disabilities, focusing on their ‘negative behaviors’ leading to stereotypes and labels.  After being introduced to the faculty, staff, and students at Lakeshore, I gained a clearer understanding of how much opposition truly faces students with disabilities.  The location of the classrooms for the students was the first and most distinction indicator of opposition. At no time during the day do the students with disabilities have the opportunity to interact with their peers without disabilities.  Even during P.E. students are kept at a different location than their peers without disabilities and are allocated few resources for physical activity. 

Furthermore, from this experience I have learned a great amount about working with students with disabilities.  After visiting various classrooms I realize that students become frustrated when they are not provided the essential tools for a sufficient education, just as their peers without disabilities might. Through observation and participation in the classroom, I realize that students do want to learn and idleness leads to chaos.  Overall, from this community based experience I have learned, by example and non-example, strategies which aid learning and academic growth.

Professionally, I feel as if I have gained invaluable knowledge as a future educator.  After observing a negative academic climate for students with disabilities, I found that I have a passion for discovering and creating simple implementable solutions that can be applied to any classroom.  In particular, I have enjoyed researching strategies for utilizing age appropriate materials and instruction.  I even had the opportunity to apply different strategies in an academic environment, while adapting different aspects to meet the needs of my student.  The experience which I have acquired from working with the students at Lakeshore has made me that much more excited to become a teacher and make a difference in students’ lives and in the community.  It has also showed me that I have the potential to make a difference and there are numerous resources available through research-based practices, which can make my visions a reality.