Wednesday, May 30, 2012

A boy with cerebral palsy runs a race—and his classmates show what inclusion means


Yes, I am wowed by this boy, Matt W. of Worthington, Ohio, running the 400 meter at his school's Field Day. I know how much effort and energy it takes to move your muscles like that when you have cerebral palsy; Matt had actually been given the option to sit out the race. Still, I am not astounded. As Max's mom, I know full well that kids with disabilities can have supersonic determination to overcome physical challenges. Matt is yet another kid with special needs who kicks butt. 

I am absolutely floored by his classmates; what happened seems like the kind of thing you only see in movies. That's the part that had me sobbing. To me, these kids deserve props for their team spirit, not for being "kind" (as a caption in the video says). That word implies that the recipient is needy or pitiful. And yes, I am very, very prickly about not wanting kids like Max to be pitied. I'd like my son to be accepted

This is inclusion at its best, what I dream of for Max.

19 comments:

  1. Oh. My. Gosh. That totally got me. Matt rocks for running the race, and his classmates - wow. Those kids are definitely going to go far in the world!

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  2. Just right. Wow what a great crowd to have around you. That kid's got a lot of heart!

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  3. I keep watching that video and thinking, "I hope my son will have friends like that."

    The comments on Jezebel after the article on this video just slayed me as well. Usually those commenters are so cynical, but everyone was so positive about this video. The video made me cry, but the comments made me SOB.

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  4. Oh my goodness! Not the best idea to read this at 9:00 am at work, lol! Thank you for sharing this. Kids have an amazing capacity to accept each other. Your writing and sharing inspires many people, I am so thankful to have found your blog!!!!

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  5. Wow I am bawling like a baby! What an awesome group of kids!

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  6. Wow! I should have known that I would cry watching this...and I definitely should have known better than to read this at work and know I am trying to hide my tears with my hair lol Happy tears! That boy is truly an inspiration and I can only hope that my daughter has such supportive friends when she gets older!

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  7. Thank goodness I am wearing waterproof mascara! Matt totally has super powers!

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  8. Not only those kids - but that gym teacher - I started crying then - what a great guy! Hats off to him and those kids! Teacher of the year - class of the year!

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  9. Matt is awesome. I couldn't stop the tears. What a beautiful example of encourage from peers who recognized his sheer determination to finish the race.

    Very similar to this article about a girl w/Ds in a track meet and the encouragement she received:
    http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2012/04/canzano_a_big_moment_at_a_yout.html

    and his follow-up article:
    http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2012/04/canzano_story_of_the_girl_who.html

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  10. Ditto what everyone else has said. I simply have no words. I just pray to God that kids will accept Caleb when he gets older. I've come to accept his recent CP diagnosis, but it still brings me to tears to think of him being picked on/bullied for being different. And it just sucks that it's out of my control.

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  11. Wow I LOVE Matt and his classmates if only everyone would emulate Matt's classmates this world would be a better place :)

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  12. WOW I got chills down my spine.WOW
    Ellen, Did Max see this? He should.
    This is the perfect article for me to post about my inspiring gym class today.We had a sub.The sub Miss R. came right out and said she has cerebal palsy.Hearing her say thatand how she was her high schools discus star was amazing.Everyone else called her the r-word as she talked different(you could understand her,you had to really listen which ok is hard for me with a hearing loss)and walked with a wide gait.Anyway she left me with these words. "My legs may not be strong but they have taken me far and will take me further.My speech may be slow but it does not affect what i prech.I am who am I.Cerebal Palsy is not me.I am Cerebal Palsy." Share these words with Max.

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  13. There aren't enough words. Of course I cried ... as the video played my youngest (who has CP) climbed up behind me and hugged me ... I can only hope that as he gets older the other kids he's growing up with will love and accept, encourage and push him to do his best and beyond his best.

    How amazing inspirational this is!

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  14. Truly amazing, and exactly what we need to see more of. Kids with special needs help regular kids become better people. The teacher is an amazing guy.

    The school my eldest son goes to is a bit like this, which I'm really pleased about for when Isaac gets to school. In fact, I mentioned the school cross country in the following post http://tuibrewster.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/whats-around-corner.html

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  15. This video has been heartwarming to many people. If you have a kid with special needs, though, it can definitely make you ache a bit—like you guys, I hope that my child is accepted and encouraged like this.

    Nisha, oh, yes, the world would be so much better if this sort of thing happened more regularly.

    Michelle, thanks for sharing that article, awesome.

    And Kathryn, you're so right: I need to show this to Max. Doh.

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  16. Take it from an inclusion aide. While being ACCEPTED is very important it's only half the battle, being INCLUDED is what I'd really love see happen with my students.
    There is a big difference between classmates saying "what's up?" or giving a high-five as they pass and actually asking them to join in on a game or conversation.

    I enjoy reading your blog...thank you for sharing your world with us.

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  17. Wow! Thanks for sharing this :) I'm balling right now, but they're happy tears. I hope that if my son still struggles with motor skills when he's school-aged he'll have wonderful, supportive classmates too.

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  18. Saw this on the news this morning while at the gym and I was sobbing on my exercise bike!! LOVE this story and all it means for our kiddos!!

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  19. LIke everyone else who watched this video I'm crying. What is interesting from my perspective is that I was the only child with a physical disability in my school (a few decades ago). Field day was one of the worst days of the year for me. So although the world has far to go in understanding the challenges of having a disability or raising a child with a disability, this video confirms that the world has changed for the better over the last few decades. Belonging and being able to identify with our peers rather than constantly having to catch up to them is a lesson in nurturing that all of society can learn from.

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Thanks for sharing!



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