Every Child is Special

I recalled my four years of teaching and more than fifteen years of student experience while I watched the movie “Every Child is Special”.  Though I have not experienced teaching a student with dyslexia, I was still able to relate to the movie because I once had students and a teacher who had a disability.

I had a teacher in crutches who taught Human Behavior in Organization. Despite his condition, he was a very effective teacher because I learned to read and understand business books like "Who Moved My Cheese", "7 Habits of Highly Effective People", "The Business Bible" and "Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies". Now that I am a teacher, I also advise my students to read some of those books.

I had a student who walks differently because of a permanent disability. She was a student of mine at Computer Communication Development Institute on the subjects Electronic Commerce, Office Automation and Information Resource Management System. She was able to cope with our lessons and even had her on the job training in Makati. Though a little bit shy at times, she has the drive to learn despite her disability.

When the right moment came to ask about her condition, she told me her story. She said  it was due to an accident when she was in elementary at St. Raphael Academy. A jeepney ran over her and ruined her right legs. She rolled up her pants and showed me the scars covered with bondage. It was sad to know what she had gone through but I admired her willingness to walk up the stairs with autonomy, take the jeepney to school and back to her home in Guinobatan.

In Bicol University-College of Business Economics and Management, a student of mine presented an excuse letter for having been absent in class for three meetings because he was recently diagnosed with glaucoma. His eyes were red every time he attended my class. In one of our classes, I asked him: How are you? He said: “Ok naman po sir pero mahal sir yung gamot”. His reply made me want to do something to help his situation and I suggested to him to send letter to NGO’s or politicians/private individuals that can help him. I have no news from him anymore but he was a diligent student in my Computer Applications and Information System class.

These three people and Ishaan Nandkishore Awasthi taught me two important things. First is to see beyond the physical disability of the learner and to acknowledge the learner’s imperfections – the dancing letters, crutches, scars and red eyes because its the imperfections that makes us beautiful.