Reflect on what Barb and Lois shared. Consider answering the following questions: (1) What surprised you? (2) What did you find beneficial to apply to your own teaching context? (3) What concerned you or contradicted your assumptions?
Lois was Barb's voice. Barb wrote how Lois knows her enough to know how to speak what Barb has written. Their relationship was beautiful. Neither would have the career they have without each other. I was very surprised to see how "low-functioning" (I really hate to use the term..) Barb was. I knew she was nonverbal, but I expected to see no signs of disability other than that. It honestly only impresses me more to hear how brilliant she is through her writing. I found the notion to make no assumptions of people's intelligence until I get the chance to know them. I also learned to assume that they can communicate, I just have to find out how their communication works - search beyond words to find out. I also learned to meet the person in their "world" - spin with them, rock with them, don't speak. I was concerned at my assumptions. I would have never thought Barb was at brilliant as she is. My assumptions were definitely contradicted!!
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