work with developmentally challenged children

Last year, I took a course at my school which allowed me to work with a group of developmentally challenged students in our school’s D.C. classroom. This year, I am a co-op student, working with the entire class. It is so rewarding to know that you are making a difference in the lives of these people. I always enjoy spending time with them… Even though some days, a few might not be too well behaved. For the most part, though, they are all very nice, and make for enjoyable company. I see them get made fun of all the time, and it hurts. People think that because they have developmental challenges, they are too stupid to know when they are being made fun of. But they aren’t stupid. They just work and learn on a very different level from the rest of society. They understand an insult when they hear one. Sometimes, they laugh it off. And sometimes, it hurts. I wish I could yell at every single person I’ve ever heard whispering about them in the hallways… But I know that it would not be very professional of me. I do tell people to smarten up sometimes though, especially when they use foul language around any of the students I work with. They catch onto these things, and the last thing we need in that classroom is for all of the kids to be saying “f* this, f* that” etc.
These kids have really made a difference with my life. Because of this class, I have decided to go into teaching as a career. I would like to be a Special Education teacher. I don’t think enough people have faith in these kids. A lot of people shrug them off as being hopeless. I won’t give up on them though. They are awesome people who deserve a chance, just like the rest of us… Even if it just means helping them integrate themselves into society. They all deserve to have a happy life. Working with developmentally challenged students is definitely worth it.

I babysit a child who is autistic four to five days a week. There is very little that is more fulfilling then watching a developmentally challenged child learn and grow at their own pace, and know you’ve had a bit of a hand in it. It makes you appreciate what you have, a fully functioning brain, more. The hardest part is when you hear about people picking on that person, you just want to somehow be their when it happens and smack the person causing the trouble. I didn’t used to think teaching was for me, but now I’m considering getting a teaching degree with an emphasis on Special Education so I can become a Special Education teacher, or something like that that would allow me to work with developmentally challenged children as a career. Do this and I promise it will change your perspective!