Ableism in education is based on Diamond's difficulty fitting into school at a young age. She felt like an outcast because, in her heart, she knew she was different from everyone else in school. But what she learns about herself will change her life forever, including her educational experiences involving the young girl becoming a victim of ableism. Would she accept herself for who she is? How will she discover her purpose in life? What problems does she encounter along the way? What cause of impact affected her life and education experiences? There are many questions to be answered!
Ableism in education is based on Diamond's difficulty fitting into school at a young age. She felt like an outcast because, in her heart, she knew she was different from everyone else in school. But what she learns about herself will change her life forever, including her educational experiences involving the young girl becoming a victim of ableism. Would she accept herself for who she is? How will she discover her purpose in life? What problems does she encounter along the way? What cause of impact affected her life and education experiences? There are many questions to be answered!
When I was 26 weeks old, I stayed in the neonatal intensive care unit for approximately six months. Until I became of legal age, I lived with my grandmother. As a child, I developed slowly compared to most other children in school. My minimum IQ ranged between 50 and 55. My social skills issues caused me difficulty understanding and pronouncing my communication as a child. I was required to attend speech therapy until I was three years old to resolve it.
It was easy for me to read and write, but I needed some help understanding the assignments the teachers gave me. The teachers would say that I avoided working on my studies because I was lazy, even though I never was lazy. My teachers would complete my assignments and hand them to my grandmother at the Individualized Educational Program meeting.
They would then say that I did those assignments, though my grandmother could notice the difference between my handwriting and the assisting paraprofessional’s handwriting.
My teachers would have the other students in the reading group read while I would follow along with the reader. Despite my family explaining how to do the paperwork, I still needed help understanding. The teachers at my schools did not teach me according to my learning needs. They refused to let me read! I would spend the entire night doing my homework. My family would explain how to do the paperwork, but I still needed help understanding.
Disability presents many challenges and struggles, making life seem more challenging. I was not listened to by my teachers, and they refused to evaluate me.
A year later, they finally figured out what disability I had. I have a moderate intellectual disability, which can affect how I learn depending on the subject.
While my learning method differs from others, it does not make me less capable since my disability shouldn’t determine my limitations.Â
It is better to get to know me for my abilities rather than for my disabilities, as having a disability can be challenging, especially in a fast-paced world such as ours.Â
Neither who you are nor what you want to achieve is defined by how you face obstacles in life. Embrace who you are despite your disability rather than letting it dictate who you are and what you want to achieve.
As the mother of two neurodivergent kids, and as a teacher, I'm very interested in the topic of how to make sure that the education environment is inclusive for all students, regardless of background and ability. I was looking forward to reading this book to get more perspective on the idea of ableism in education.
The book was a much quicker read than I expected. The chapters are very short, and the language and writing style are quite easy to read. Most of the book shares the author's experiences, from elementary school bullying to college work and dreams of being a special education teacher. One chapter in the book touched on loving someone with autism, which was particularly relevant to me.
The book actually doesn't have a lot to offer in regards to overall data. It's much more anecdotal and personal in nature. It also talks a lot about what is needed in education, without specific ideas. A big part of that is the author's inexperience - the book's experiences stop as a sophomore in college. That doesn't mean the book isn't worth reading, though. It's definitely worth the read for anyone who works in education, just because it's such a good idea to get a wide variety of perspectives. There aren't a great deal of books about ableism written from the perspective of someone who has an intellectual disability, so this helps fill that void.
Ableism is an important issue. It's something that is very prevalent in society, and definitely shows up in classrooms. Even well-meaning teachers can sometimes struggle to incorporate students from all walks of life. This book serves as a strong reminder to teachers to continue to work towards having inclusive classrooms and can inspire others to share their experiences with ableism in the education system.