How Fortunate…
July 22, 2013 –
International Symposium of Adapted Athletics, Yeditepe University
When presenters leave you with tears in your eyes - tears of
gratitude, happiness, and inspiration - how does one even begin to say thank
you and show appreciation for their courage, commitment to equality, and quite
simply, just doing the right thing?
This morning I was extremely fortunate to be in attendance
at an Adapted Physical Activity Symposium and the session was titled: Families
are Speaking about Adapted Physical Activity (APA).
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| Yeditepe University, Istanbul |
I have been a Developmental/Adapted Physical Education
(D/APE) teacher for 17 years and have coached the adapted sports of soccer,
floor hockey, and baseball for nine years.
D/APE and adapted athletics are wonderful opportunities for students to
learn and practice gross motor skills, participate and be a member of a team,
experience the challenges and the thrills that competitive play can offer, all
while socializing and making lifelong friends. What happens when these resources
are not made available to all? The story
I heard today affected me emotionally and inspired me to write about what I
heard. The man telling his story today,
alongside his mother, was once an elementary student that did not have access
to adapted physical education, and for a while, he did not have access to his
home school.
Arthur wanted to attend his home school so that he could
enjoy his educational experiences with his neighborhood friends. Arthur was a bright and talented student that
wanted to do what his friends were doing.
He wanted to play, participate at recess, enjoy lunch with friends,
increase and share his knowledge, and overall be a part of his school
community. Arthur enjoys sports and wanted to be part of a team, so he joined a
T-ball team; he understood that he would develop friendships and social skills
much quicker by being an active participant, not on the sidelines. Arthur had found an outlet that enabled him
to pursue one of his passions…sports!
I had mentioned that Arthur’s mom was also at the
presentation; talk about passion, she’s got it!
After a few years of advocating and sharing her passion with members of
the school community, Arthur was able to attend his home school. Arthur remembers his first day at his new school
and he told the principal that he wanted to join the football team, and the
principal agreed that Arthur’s idea sounded like a good one. Arthur was attending his home school,
participating with the football team, making friends, and finding himself enjoying
social settings and opportunities with his teammates, class mates, and
friends. Arthur’s passion for sports led
him to be the Sport’s Editor for his high school newspaper. Arthur has passion much like his mother, and
he excelled at his new school, graduating with honors at the top of his
class.
When offered the same opportunities as others, Arthur excelled. When people are offered the same
opportunities as others, when they are included, when they are treated as
equals and not viewed or labeled as different, many positive outcomes can occur. Arthur is a special and amazing person, and
he wants to be treated as such. Don’t we
all? Don’t we all deserve to be treated equally? As a teacher, a coach, and as a parent, I can
affirm that treating people with respect and making opportunities available for
all is just simply the right thing to do.
I also learned at this symposium that most people have barriers, and
that these barriers can be turned into hurdles that one can overcome. Arthur wants to be treated specially - because
of who he is, and what he can do - not because of his wheelchair. My guess would be that most people that use a
wheelchair would appreciate the same.
Arthur thrives, even though he has other hurdles to overcome. Arthur needs a little more time to speak and
sometimes his words are slurred. Arthur
knows this; he has much to say, and he appreciates when people listen to
him. He also utilizes a little more time
to grasp objects, and he can, he will, and he does grasp so many things. Arthur wants be seen for what he can do; for
that, he is a very positive role model. I
see Arthur as an individual who worked hard, went around - or through - barriers
to overcome his hurdles. If Arthur can be considered the running back in his game
of life, then it is because he followed his mom, the fullback, through the line
of scrimmage and gaining positive yardage most of the time. Activity and sports
opened up a world of acceptance and opportunities for Arthur; friendship,
social skills and settings, participation on his football team, and serving as
his high school newspaper’s sports editor.
Acceptance is a wonderful word that leads to amazing potential for
all.
Later that day as I was seated for lunch with others from
the symposium, I had the good fortune to be located near Arthur and his
mom. It was a great opportunity to tell
mom how much I appreciated her passion and how fortunate I was to listen to
Arthur talk about football, school, friends and family. I learned that Arthur can stand independently
in water, play water volleyball and basketball, and lift weights. He is very proud that he can bench press 60
pounds. Arthur enjoys the feeling of power,
and he feels very powerful when he is active.
It was truly an inspiring and meaningful day for me, as I feel that after
the session and lunch, Arthur and his mom validated that my profession has
meaning and value.
I will take what I learned from Arthur, his mom, and the
symposium and apply it to my daily life, as an educator, a parent, and as a
member of society. Please think of all
of the barriers that we have overcome as a society. Think of all the members of society that we
have included to enjoy some of our basic freedoms and please consider those
still not included. What might it feel
like to have a visible barrier or hurdle and people judging you and forming
opinions of you before you can say a word?
Reduction of labels and language is conducive to social inclusion, and labeling
someone based on physical appearance is not. Connections, advocacy, and inclusion stem
through opportunities available through adapted physical activity. Open your
world to all and it will become evident who wants to be there. I look forward to a world filled with positive
role models, and am forever grateful that I was fortunate enough to have met
Arthur and his mom.
