Community

Definition: a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.

Being a member of a community is something that we all take for granted. We expect that while we are in school, we will participate both inside and outside the classroom, and we expect that in the adult world we will be looked at as equals, who are making a living just like everyone else. What we don't realize, is that not everyone has this opportunity to be a part of their own community.

Many people say that special education classes exist to teach those students how to be members of a community, teach them life skills; however, if they're separated from the majority of their peers, then how are they supposed to be members of their current community, being their school? A big part of being a community member is knowing how to interact with other people. Yes, students in special education classes will be interacting with their teachers, and with their EA's . . . But what about their peers? Where are they in this process? Yes, obviously some students need more assistance from EA's and teachers, and some need more one-on-one teaching that you don't always get in mainstream classes . . . But having friends and peers that give you the time of day is important too; one of the most natural ways for students to learn, is to learn from each other.

A family friend of ours has recently gotten a job doing personal planning for people who have intellectual disabilities; this means that she helps them think for themselves, and encourages them to make their own decisions about what they would like for their future. Would they like to live in their own house rather than a group home? Would they like to work as a cashier, rather than as the person who stocks shelves? She helps get them started with everything, and encourages their family and friends to be a part of the social network.

Through the work that she's done, she has heard all of these amazing stories about people who have gotten full-time jobs, and are able to live their own life like everyone else. For example, one woman got a job at a lawyer's office bringing mail and other documents to the various floors and offices that were in this law firm. And, because this woman couldn't read, the mail and the entire law firm was colour-coded so that she could navigate throughout the firm independently. I have learned that sometimes you have to create new jobs for people who have disabilities, rather than try to have them compete for a job that already exists.

For my brothers, our most recent idea is to open up our own ice-cream parlor after they're out of high school. Ice-cream is something that they both enjoy to eat, and something that Alex loves to make. This ice-cream parlor, although it doesn't seem like an outstanding job, would be the perfect gateway for my brothers to become even more of a part of their community. People would come in and talk to them, rather than just see them and say nothing.

Looking back to the definition that I posted of community, it doesn't say anything about separation for people who have disabilities, does it? So why should they be separated from everyone else? If they live near you locally, then let them be in that group of people you call a community.