Never Say Never and Achieve Better Results with Special-Needs Children
by Nancy Howson
Children with autism have special needs, but perhaps educators can achieve better results if tactics and expectations are reevaluated. - Editor's Note. Here is one real-life story from Nancy Howson.
Seven years ago I sat in a room with my Co-Workers as they briefed me about the children who will be coming into my class in the coming two weeks. For the most part they used the phrases, “do not expect much”, “always takes three steps forward and four steps backwards”. Then they came to a little boy who I will call Will. They described him to me as a spoilt. Parents were in denial. One of my Co-workers said that she had informed the parents that they needed to look into a wheel chair because he would never walk unassisted and that Will would always be a “lump of nothing”. READ MORE
Specialisterne
Specialisterne USA is driving the nationwide expansion of the proven international job creation and employment concept, Specialisterne (“The Specialists”). We assess, train and employ individuals with autism as consultants in IT and other sectors with technically oriented tasks and jobs, with 80-90% of our employees working at corporate partner sites.Our ambition is within three years to replicate Specialisterne as a sustainable business in 10-12 regions covering the US and develop a mentorship/management model to enable employers to expand their recruitment to include high functioning people with autism and similar challenges.
Specialisterne USA is driving the nationwide expansion of the proven international job creation and employment concept, Specialisterne (“The Specialists”). We assess, train and employ individuals with autism as consultants in IT and other sectors with technically oriented tasks and jobs, with 80-90% of our employees working at corporate partner sites.Our ambition is within three years to replicate Specialisterne as a sustainable business in 10-12 regions covering the US and develop a mentorship/management model to enable employers to expand their recruitment to include high functioning people with autism and similar challenges.
The following articles are not specific to autism, but rather to the difference a change in perspective can make:
Now relying on a wheelchair, architect Michael Graves creates buildings for survivors
In 2003, Michael Graves had just returned home from a business trip to Germany and Switzerland. He wasn't feeling well and told colleagues at his architectural firm that he was leaving early to go home and rest. By the next morning, Graves, one of America's most prominent architects and designers, was fighting for his life against a mysterious virus.
It was not until two years later, after treatment in eight hospitals and four rehab centers, that Graves finally got back to work — paralyzed from the chest down and needing to use a wheelchair.
This story is not about the virus or his rehab, but about what Graves has done with the rest of his life: design hospitals and rehab centers for people like himself, for wounded soldiers and for others facing huge physical
challenges. Most of what exists now for such people, he says, is just too depressing to even die in. READ MORE
In 2003, Michael Graves had just returned home from a business trip to Germany and Switzerland. He wasn't feeling well and told colleagues at his architectural firm that he was leaving early to go home and rest. By the next morning, Graves, one of America's most prominent architects and designers, was fighting for his life against a mysterious virus.
It was not until two years later, after treatment in eight hospitals and four rehab centers, that Graves finally got back to work — paralyzed from the chest down and needing to use a wheelchair.
This story is not about the virus or his rehab, but about what Graves has done with the rest of his life: design hospitals and rehab centers for people like himself, for wounded soldiers and for others facing huge physical
challenges. Most of what exists now for such people, he says, is just too depressing to even die in. READ MORE
Chris Downey on Architecture for the Blind
Last month, I had the pleasure of hearing a very unusual talk at the AIA San Francisco. Chris Downey lost his eyesight following a surgical operation two and a half years ago, and has continued to practice architecture. He spoke to an audience of architects about some of the special methods he uses to share ideas with design teams on projects, and also about how to design buildings and environments specifically for people with limited vision. “The ADA is more about mobility,” he said. “For the visually impaired, it’s more about safety.”
“I’ve only been blind for two and a half years,” he joked. “As far as knowing how to get around easily without vision, I’m still a kid.” Downey also noted that his driver’s license was still valid until a few weeks ago. “When I lost my vision, the first thing I had to learn was non-visual coping skills. They teach you about things like how to travel on mass transit. But there was no training on how to be a blind architect.” READ MORE
Last month, I had the pleasure of hearing a very unusual talk at the AIA San Francisco. Chris Downey lost his eyesight following a surgical operation two and a half years ago, and has continued to practice architecture. He spoke to an audience of architects about some of the special methods he uses to share ideas with design teams on projects, and also about how to design buildings and environments specifically for people with limited vision. “The ADA is more about mobility,” he said. “For the visually impaired, it’s more about safety.”
“I’ve only been blind for two and a half years,” he joked. “As far as knowing how to get around easily without vision, I’m still a kid.” Downey also noted that his driver’s license was still valid until a few weeks ago. “When I lost my vision, the first thing I had to learn was non-visual coping skills. They teach you about things like how to travel on mass transit. But there was no training on how to be a blind architect.” READ MORE
