My teaching is informed by a general desire to see all people find their way to a fulfilling life that involves self-understanding, self-determination, meaningful work, and a fulfilling interior life. Education should go beyond the teaching of individual skills to individual students. It involves teaching the whole child in a context that respects the rights of all human beings. When children with disabilities are respected and taught within a larger community, the whole community learns respect for the rights of those with disabilities. This is part of the larger work of special education, teaching the whole community the value of every human being.
In order for young adults, particularly those with pervasive developmental disabilities, to enter a productive life in the community, six educational goals emerge as crucial for independence and success:
1. To tolerate many different people and
value their differing interactions.
2. To tolerate change and accept new experiences.
3. To communicate needs desires and opinions intentionally and effectively.
4. To organize important information and learn meanings and purposes
5. To be independent of constant directions and prompts.
6. To self-monitor and manage stress. (Adapted
from the Oregon Autism Working Group, 1995)
Currently in my fourth year managing the Life Skills program at Wilson High School in Portland, I have strived to create courses that provide ample opportunity for, and direct instruction in, all of these goals. The Life Skills program offers courses in Social Skills, Vocational Skills, Functional Life Skills, Reading, Writing, Math, and Adapted Physical Education as well as opportunities for elective study in the general education environment. Toward these ends, I also manage the Café 248 vocational program—coffee service for Wilson staff run by Life Skills students—and I am the faculty advisor for Circle of Friends student group—structured social groups for general and special education students.
Beyond the teaching I have done at the college level in the humanities, literature, and composition, I am currently gaining certification as a secondary language arts teacher through the School of Education at the University of Portland. My current studies are exciting and allow me to pursue advanced Special Education and research-based teaching techniques at the same time that I prepare both general and special language arts curricula. I’ll be posting more on this later.