It goes without saying that many people still view children with disabilities from a negative perspective. Yes, in 2019, it still happens. Unfortunately, a lot of these people work in schools, where their attitudes may be most damaging… case in point!
In my classroom, I have a very nice enclosed patio. This patio area is attached to the preschool playground. A typical wire fence with a gate that we keep closed and “locked” is the barrier that keeps my students in and preschool students out. Of course, my students go up to the wire fence and love to interact with the preschoolers who in turn love to interact with my students. We are often bombarded with the typical preschool questions and love to educate them on disabilities in general, and even at that age teach sensitivity and respect.
This patio area is where I can open my classroom door and allow my students to “come and go” when the weather permits. This activity occurs during their free/leisure/recess time. This time is an excellent opportunity for my students who are in their pacers (walkers) and dynamic standers to work on walking, moving, weight bearing, and maneuvering. Balls, toys, sensory items, and other activities are provided to them while they are outside. They get the fresh air, work on gross motor and fine motor skills, and get away from their teachers when they need to! For my students who love being outside, that open door is an invitation and motivation to move. There have even been times where my paras and I as a whole group, or individually, take our students outside to work on whatever activity that is going on for the day. Even though my students have the freedom to come and go, my paras and I supervise them closely.
On this particular beautiful day, my students were enjoying the outside when my para, Mary, went outside to check on them. As usual, one was playing with his toy, another was walking around, while another was basking in the sun. My social butterfly, the smallest one outside, who was in her pacer with her hands strapped in the arm prompts for support, was at the fence smiling and vocalizing to a couple of preschoolers who were engrossed in a conversation with her. All was well until the preschool teacher came to the fence to speak with my para. She questioned why our students were allowed to be outside, instead of inside (really!!!); that my students could hurt hers (through the fence?!?!?); that she didn’t want my students touching her students because her students could get hurt (wow!!!); that she has 24 preschoolers to supervise (oh well, you chose that job!!!); and that mine should be inside instead of outside! There was more said, but that sums it up in a nutshell!!! Mary finally got tired of debating with her and told her if she had anymore problems, she could talk with the teacher. Needless to say, she has not done so!
In all of the year’s preschool has been at Prairie, I have had preschool teachers question our patio free/leisure/recess time, but never condemn it. Their questions were to gain an understanding, not to reprove. Once that understanding was in place, these preschool teachers encouraged interaction, and like us, taught the preschoolers! Never has one wanted to petition a “no touch” and/or “keep them inside” policy!!!
My response… students are back outside the very next day doing themselves!!! For those who know me, my students will NEVER be treated as second class citizens!!! As far as the preschool teacher is concerned… I’m working on that!