This week I was so inspired by a video going viral on social media about a father who loves his daughter, I though I would share it with you, if you haven't seen it yet.
This video touched on a lot of issues our society has with stereotyping individuals with any kind of disability. I appreciated his honesty about what he believed before getting to know his daughter, and what ideas he had before about down syndrome, as they aren't uncommon beliefs. Before getting to know his daughter, this dad was in total fear of what problems it would bring him, and what other people would think. He was worried that others would think he had "bad genes." After seeing the love his daughter evoked and all the things she could do, his only worry was about the education of others; he was afraid of how wrong he was before knowing his daughter, and that most of society may think the same way he did.
When it comes to any individual with any kind of disability, whether it be a hearing loss or a developmental disorder, our society tends to lump all of these individuals into a group and sees them as strange and different. Some members of society see these people as having "bad genes" and can't see the greatness in these individuals. As Speech-Pathologists and Audiologists, we will have to educate families to forget the stereotypes. Every person is different and no two disabilities are a like, and we want to make sure all of society is re-educated to see what these people CAN do rather than can't. And this can sometimes be very frustrating.
I experienced this frustration over the summer. I worked with NWSRA, an organization near my home that had summer camps for kids and teenagers and fun social events for adults with various sorts of special needs. One of my campers was 19 years old and a total sweetheart, he gave the best hugs. He was nonverbal and didn't use a communication board or sign language to communicate. He used gestures to answer my yes/no questions and was usually pretty quiet, except at the pool. Every day after lunchtime we went to the local pool, and every day he would scream with delight when he saw the pool. Being in the water was his favorite, even when it was 60 degrees and drizzling. He was also 6'2'', so we got a lot of positive and negative attention at the pool. Luckily most of the adults at the pool were kind and understanding, and we made a lot of friends. We got many glares, but not to many of those individuals approached us. We really got the most attention from other kids at the pool, most were curious about why he would scream, and some were concerned that he was upset. But I soon became frustrated when he became the target of bullying from other kids splashing him and calling him "crazy." I would always say "he's having fun at the pool just like you," but they couldn't see past the fact he would only scream, and not talk. One day, two young kids at the pool approached us, and one asked my why my camper was screaming. I gave my usual speech about how the pool is is favorite, worrying that my camper would get bullied, when the other young girl piped in. She said "that's just his own way to communicate, he's just telling everyone he's happy in his own way." I was floored by this little girl's insight, and really impressed by her positivity From then on I started using her explanation when I came across other curious kids at the pool.
Have you had the experience of explaining to someone how a disability will impact their language and hearing abilities? How did you handle it if you faced stereotyping and prejudice?
I'll leave you with one of my favorite videos: Seth Goldberg, a participant in NWSRA adult programs, interpreting for a Josh Groban concert that was in Chicago this summer. His talent is amazing and the passion that he has is a great example of how communicating in your own way is a beautiful thing.
You raise me up..skip to 30 seconds in
Have you had the experience of explaining to someone how a disability will impact their language and hearing abilities? How did you handle it if you faced stereotyping and prejudice?
I'll leave you with one of my favorite videos: Seth Goldberg, a participant in NWSRA adult programs, interpreting for a Josh Groban concert that was in Chicago this summer. His talent is amazing and the passion that he has is a great example of how communicating in your own way is a beautiful thing.
You raise me up..skip to 30 seconds in
