How Fortunate

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).

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.