Classroom 506

The New York Times Magazine has an article about Thomas, a little boy with cerebral palsy and his parents’ monumental effort to create a truly inclusive environment for him at school. Thomas is nonverbal, a challenge that is especially difficult to overcome in a classroom setting. Back in the day, I had friends with disabilities with varying levels of communication disorders. The kids who were the most nonverbal were also the most socially isolated. The able-bodied kids were, with time and familiarity, able to look past all kinds of physical impairments, but they were often intimidated by anyone who couldn’t talk. The magazine article portrays Thomas as bright and sociable, which gives me some hope that things will turn out okay for him.
On a related note, the POV series on PBS will be airing a documentary entitled Freedom Machines, highlighting the role of assistive technology in the lives of people with disabilities. Thanks to Katja for the heads-up.