Team Hoyt!

Talk about inspiring!

Prof. Sandhu is on a roll!

Two weeks after the incredible Stephen video, and the contrast with the mothers with Autistic children comes another sad/difficult story (Ashley) contrasted unbelievably with the incredible story of Team Hoyt!

I sent my Dad a link to their site, and a link to a similar video to the one in class. Just something you want to share! Interestingly enough, without getting into too much detail, my brother was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia years ago, and while he seems to have grown out of the symptoms, my dad told me that at the time, he considered trying to do something similar (at 50 my dad still does triathalons... crazy man).

I guess while it is definitely related to teaching, it has more to do (for me at least) with possible parenthood. I just found the dad to be incredible. Just his attitude that no disability was going to get in the way of him trying to raise his son the same way he raised his others. What a beautiful soul.

Also, a big win for assistive technologies in that story, the ability for Richard to communicate has given him a life that 50 years ago he wouldn't have had access to.

Feel good stories to end classes are awesome!

Autism, and Beyond

Incredible class today. Really moving, and stimulating.

Obviously, what hit me the most was the video of Stephen, the "Human Camera".

I intend to show the video to just about everybody I know. It was THE COOLEST video I've ever seen.

(As a sidenote: I went to Rome in grade 12, and that is EXACTLY what it looks like. So. Cool.)

But what I came out thinking today had to do with something that was said in class. Find something that Stephen likes to do, celebrate it, use it, promote it, and have it be a reward. And that really helps him.

But, I have things I like to do, don't I? Don't you? Yes, Stephen is Autistic, and has an incredible ability that I can barely fathom. But we all have those things that we enjoy just a little bit more, things that we secretly like that we are good at.

Maybe as teachers we should spend more time trying to tap into those things for ALL of our students, not just Human Cameras.

Just a thought I guess.