Today is my 4th day at Upper Arlington High School working in their special needs classroom. At 9:54, my lunch break began (come on guys, 9:54?) and I came to the atrium with a pile of IEP’s that would take me days to read in full. Technical behavioral and developmental jargon that most people wouldn’t understand. Goals that most people wouldn’t think needed to be established, because they come naturally to a typical person. I tell someone I work with kids with special needs and this is what they think. Special school accommodations.Special treatment to avoid problem behaviors. The word loses the positive connotation. It’s not the special I see every single day.

I know when T is having a rough day because his scripts change from Adele lyrics to “he’s weird, why is he so weird, make him stop singing”. Prettyspecial skill, huh? To be able to remember word for word the things you hear. Not everybody knows that T can speak not one, but five languages. Active participant in the school choir who has happily extended an invitation to his upcoming musical. You can expect me there with bells on.

J runs a lot. For no clear reason. Runs from the classroom. Out into the street. But he’ll tell you right away that it was wrong.  He’ll also tell you the scrabble point value of any word you give him, without hesitation.

I stay back with S to walk with her to class because it takes a little longer. Her Down Syndrome diagnosis inhibits her muscle growth and strength. But once we get to class and get settled, she updates me on the newest gossip from Seventeen magazine. She let me know that my white pants were not acceptable, because Labor Day has come and gone. She’s given me the thumbs-up to chaperone the Homecoming dance, but “pleaseeee don’t be embarrassing Ms. W, the cute boys will be there!”

Of course these kids are different. But different is not synonymous with less than. These kids have the ability to teach me something new every single day; whether it is giving me a tour of the school and formally introducing me to every staff member or subtle life lessons, like to speak kindly to others, because you never know what words will stick.

Special: better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual.These kids are so special.

This post was posted here – please drop round a see her other great posts.

Ms Wolowicz is a specialist teacher of children on the autism spectrum.  She says of herself “the only thing you need to know about me is that I have a small (okay, it’s pretty big) obsession with pugs. my diet normally consists of starbucks and some sort of cheese, preferably queso dip, and I am a die hard packer fan. “in every victory, in every trial my soul will sing, be lifted high”

To see here