Social Health and Diversity
Personal Reflection
People With Disabilities
Service in itself is one of the most effective ways to learn about the community and people within it. You can go to school or visit someone any day that may try to teach you what the world is like and how you should live in it. Textbooks, however, are not going to teach you much of anything you need to know, on the other hand, they can be quite eye opening. By performing service you gain a personal understanding and feeling that contributing your actions make a difference. I have chosen to work with people with disabilities. Many consider this to be difficult or uncomfortable to do, but it is quite the opposite once you get going. My goal is to become familiar and understanding, teaching myself to be more willing to help when the need presents itself.
The most challenging aspect of my service has been patience so far. Many of the kids that we are working with at Kauri Sue Hamilton are nonverbal. Being used to quick responses and people saying exactly what they want, it can be hard to take time to stop and understand what the child wants. Nothing is quick like the life I am used to, which makes me think and appreciate those doing this task every day. Many of the workers over the summer are not the teachers during the regular school year. They actually hire many high school students to help care for the kids. As time went on during service, it always continued to get easier to get along with the kids. I began to grow accustomed to each individual and learn how they interact with others. Some could talk and listen, but you may have to repeat yourself over and over. One kid had me reading the same book to him continuously and often it was the same page repeated. That can be frustrating to do but then I realize I finally got him to interact and now I am complaining about it? I think even people with bad patience problems could work in this environment. Unless they despise people with disabilities, it is hard to get so impatient when you look at them and see how grateful they are for you to be there.
Every single one of the difficulties is worth every second of service. The joy that you see in the children’s eyes and smiles is priceless. Knowing that their day was made better because you accepted them as a friend, makes you feel important as well. Making a difference in someones life can be this easy. One of the best feelings has been the laughter and excitement they show while playing a quick game. A simple thing that we often get bored with is the highlight of their day. If anyone finds this unrewarding, they are going in with the wrong idea, and something is slightly wrong with them. Many of the kids do not speak at all or even communicate, however, overtime it becomes easy to understand. Looking into their eyes, you can tell they are communicating through their expression filled faces. One girl I could ask if I was cute and there would be a momentary pause. Shortly after her eyes light up and she begins nodding her head like crazy. I say thank you and she has a big smile on her face and looks at me and stops nodding. They are all such precious human beings; people say they are disabled but they only have a disability. Them as a whole are not unable of functioning. They are also quite abled, I have never seen someone be able to bring joy and make everyones face light up.
My service may not affect the entire community, it was never meant to do so. However the community that includes people with disabilities and those individuals working with them may be affected. I know that they appreciate the help around the classroom and the distractions that we give the kids. They are always busy helping and deserve a break every once in awhile. The kids enjoy feeling accepted, especially because they do not always have the opportunity to make new friends. Many times they just need love, and they are pretty good at giving it too, in fact they are much more capable of this than most humans I encounter daily. We can learn a little from them when it comes to that. Sure, they can be a little hard to handle and defiant, but when they do not even know you and come give a hug, you know they share their love. I had one student whose name was Landon and every morning it was the same thing, “Jared loves Landon, Jessica loves Landon, Braydon loves Landon” and even “Landon loves Landon.” he knew we all loved him because we did more than telling him, we showed him. The same student is also in love with stickers but he would generously give them to those who showed love to him. I am honored to have become their friend and I look up to them.
My service is changing my entire perspective. Much like this class, working at the school is a huge eye opener for me. It makes me think of everyone I have met in my life who act like those with disabilities are useless and a problem. They say they are a waste sometimes and people give up occasionally. I have seen this is not true. When you see the children making music, laughing, making jokes, and dancing around, you know that they are there and they are making the best of the life they have been given. They are just as capable as many of us, just because some aid may be needed does not make them of any less worth. As discussed in class they are people with disabilities, NOT disabled people. I was able to witness this first person. One student who did not talk at all, at least when I was there, was incredibly intelligent. Put him on a computer and he begins drawing houses with garages, driveways, windows, and doors. I sat there and watched him and remained a little confused, but he knew exactly what he was doing. He also built some small cars in workshop without any instructions being given. When instruction is given however, he is an extremely good listener. Not a single one of these individuals are worthless or a waste of time.
This is not my first time doing this sort of service and certainly will not be my last. Since the end of my hours, I have continued in my volunteering whenever I have the chance. Why would I ever miss an opportunity to brighten my day as well as someone else’s? The best way to ever learn something is to put yourself out there. Prior to my interactions with people with disabilities, I never really understood them or what it is like, but thanks to the work I have done at Kauri Sue Hamilton, that has changed significantly. Everyone with disabilities should be treated equally to those without, nothing about them makes them any less of a human. Take the challenge and go serve and allow an impact to be made on both you and those served.
