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What's in a label? Hmmm, this would be a spin-off from what's in a name?
A strong, viable, powerful name . . . a name that speaks volumes, a name
that will follow or haunt an individual for the rest of his/her life A name,
to some degree, describes our character or pride Names are derived from heritages,
cultures, and are loving caricatures of what we want our children to be known
by. However, when there's a name that causes eyebrows to furrow, the corners
of mouths to crinkle in laughter, or faces to become blank with concern,
that's a sure sign that the name pronounced in a crowded room or spelled
on a pre-designed form has a place value in the lives of others. I mean,
how many Judas' do you know, but by the same token, how many Jesus' (pronounced
by the Hispanic culture) are there?
The same holds true in a label. When we become so engrossed with labels
that would seemingly and supposedly describe our special needs children--the
children that were carried in our bodies during a gestational period of up
to forty weeks--we allow our concerns, fears, and woes to cloud our positive
thinking. Labels, like "bad" names, will follow our children for the rest
of their lives. They will at times cause laughter, furrowed eyebrows, and
panic upon the faces of family members, employers, and the general public.
Well, they will if we allow them to! It's important to know that if a label
is attributed to your special learner, that you as a parent not home in on
all the negative aspects of the text-book stereotype that it offers. The
parent is the child's best advocate and can demand respect and opportunities
for the child to be an active participant in society and his community
Down Syndrome, Autism, Asperger's, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis,
ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, to name a few, are all diagnoses . . . labels that,
when delivered to loved ones, can create disparaging results, but discouraging
as these names are, they don't have to be definitive of our children's futures.
In her book Homeschooling Special Needs Children, Sharon C. Hensley,
M.A., an educator in the public school system before leaving to homeschool
her own three children, one of which is a special needs child, ensures that
her reading demographic understands that labeling is not at all what defines
our children. She utilizes such labels to identify a problem that requires
a learning style solution, but does not in any way hold onto the aforesaid
as a means to diminish a child, his/her parents, or their future goals. "We
shouldn't become slaves to a definition . . . it's the knowledge we need,
not the label. When you homeschool your special learner, you shouldn't be
interested in a label for the purpose of qualifying for an educational program."
Before leaving the public school system myself, I was told that, unless
I accepted a certain type of label in addition to another label that had
been attributed to our son, he would not be eligible for student services.
Excuse me . . . student services? The services that he had already been receiving
within the year he had been attending kindergarten? The services that by
right belonged to him, no matter how many labels were heaped upon us? No,
that was it, no more! We weren't going to allow additional labels to follow
our son's future just so that he could receive services that were already
legally due him
The only label we're interested in is "child of God." We will
instill the love, nurturing, and education that our son needs and ensure
his abilities by doing what God gives us strength to complete. Remember to
rest in God's power and His sustaining grace to provide for your every need,
including the education of your special needs children.
Tori W. McCollum, columnist, editor, freelance writer, homeschooling
mother, poet, professor, and tutor was born in San Diego, California. Accepting
Christ at the tender age of nine, she became very involved in her church,
where her father has served as undershepherd for thirty-five years. Married
for 14 years, she has been blessed with three wonderful, yet precocious
children (all boys).
She resides in Murrieta, California, where God continues to show his
favor on her family.
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