I really enjoyed attending the session with Barb Rentenbach and Lois the "smiling shrink". I had heard about Barb's disability and how she communicated with people, but obviously it was still a shock seeing as I have never really been in contact with someone with severe autism. I was absolutely amazed by the readings read by us that Barb wrote. Being declared as profoundly "retarded" at 19, and now seeing what she has overcome, and accomplished is amazing. Her vocabulary and knowledge of the outside world is incredible and motivating.
Barb wanted to get across the significance of being facilitators as teachers. She has worked with her facilitator, Lois, for years to become an accomplished writer. They key is as teachers is to discover what our students with disabilities are passionate about, and their strengths. If a child with ADHD is in your class, which is more common, medication is not necessarily always they key. Get them up and moving, and figure out their learning strategies and what works best. Patience is something all teachers must encompass.
When seeing Barb, and hearing her turrets, it is hard not to judge what she is capable of in comparison to "normals" as she calls them. That may sound terrible. But I have come to realize after her writings that she can feel all the same emotions, can understand physical contact, including sexual contact, and wishes to communicate with those she wishes. Imagine how hard it would be to be mute when simply wanting to explain a simple situation and typing painfully slow- but thats what works for Barb. Facilitating takes time, and we have to give those with disabilities a chance to express themselves the way the want.
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