Making Connections.

       Okay usually I'm not the quickest person on the planet, and I have no problem admitting that.  Witty people blow my mind. A fair amount of remarks or comments just roll right over my head. In school it takes me a review session or two to grasp some concepts in class...However! This week in class we discussed a topic that clicked right away! Hahaha, I went to bed feeling accomplished that night....
       Developmental delay. That's where this all started. Developmental Delay as we learned in class are "a diverse group of server chronic conditions that are due to mental/ and or physical impairments." These conditions can apply in one of 5 areas, cognition , communication, adaptive behavior, social/ emotional and physical motor. What qualifies a child as being developmentally delayed is to have 1 standard deviation below average in two areas, or 2 standard deviations below average in one area. Whatever delay is prominent (whether in one area or multiple) a plan can be created and implemented from a young age!! If caught early enough an adviser/ counselor can enter the home and work with the child to aid and monitor their development. Cool huh? There's so much that can be done these days it amazes me.
        Now I tell you about my connection. I have a sweet little niece, who will turn two this year, who I think is just the most darling little thing on the planet. Since she'll be two this year, she was born back when I was in the ending months of my mission. I remember clearly opening the email containing the first picture I'd ever see of her. Something was terribly wrong and my eyes immediately filled up with tears. This sweet little girl who was going to be a perfect little blessing in our lives had some complications at birth. I distinctly remember seeing her tiny new born body hooked up to all kinds of machines with tubes wires and cords surrounding her. What had happened was during the delivery my sister's umbilical  cord burst. Small chance right? Anyway, to make a long story short, my little nice went a little longer without oxygen than she should have. Now almost two years later she's just as perfect as we could have imagined her and growing just as she should be. The connection I made was how she went from having a traumatic birth to where shes at now, came from God's graces and the help of the worker visiting my sisters home to ensure my niece was hitting the developmental milestones she should be. Perhaps I'm a geek for learning but I thought it was so cool to have learned about something that affected my family in a positive way!
       God blesses our lives in the most awesome ways. From blessing my sister and her daughter to even just helping me understand my class work! I never cease to be amazed at how involved the Lord is in the everyday little affairs of my life. GOD. IS. GOOD.

-- Julie

Can I really do this?

I like to tell myself  I can do hard things. I like to tell myself I have done hard things. This whole blog started as a report of my mission, which is surely...a hard thing (hard things...does that grammar bother anyone else? Shouldn't I be saying "difficult tasks"? Anyways...). Life is without a doubt full of hard things we must do. Some we choose to do, others we don't. My educational path is one I'm choosing, but after today's class discussion I had to ask myself "can I really do this?" Choosing to pursue a career path in special education will more often than not give me plenty of "hard things" to do. 

         Every Friday we come to class, we're to learn from fellow students about specific disabilities. Today the first lesson was presented, by three wonderful girls, about Autism. All I could say after was "Wow". Now, I like to think I've had a fair amount of experience interacting with disabled persons, but never have I encountered someone with Autism. Strange right? Especially since the numbers of Autistic persons are growing. It was reported in class today that Autism affects 1 in 68 children, 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls. After today's lesson though, I was in shock at my own lack of knowledge, and quite frankly a little uncomfortable. Small waves of panic crashed onto to me as thoughts raced through my mind. "Can I really do this? Can I really work on a daily basis with a student who has autism?" Now please don't jump to conclusions about me, I'm not saying Autism is the worst thing ever, but perhaps all this new information is just a little overwhelming. After all, in class a video was shared of two parents wrestling their autistic son to the ground in order to restrain him from his outburst. I realize this may be an extreme case, but I'm not sure I could do that. I'm less than 120 lbs! 

        Although I may have been a little freaked out today, I learned some important tactics that may help if I teach an Autistic student:

1. Get to know your student- How simple is that?! They're a student just like all your other students. 

2. Know what motivates your student- Again, they're like all other students, they have interests too. 

3. Let them be a part in decision making- No one likes to be bossed around! I certainly don't! 

4. Establish growth expectations.- Autistic students need challenges too. 

     While at first I may have been fearful of teaching such students and asking myself "can I really do this?" My overall thought was the confirmation "Yes Julie, you can". God loves all of His children. He makes us all different for a reason, and though we don't fully understand why, in time we'll come to love ALL His children as He does. This little video was shared in class today and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share how sweet it is!

--Julie

http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/my-brother-hyrum

Let's begin again.

      Why is it that as people we create endings and beginnings? People hate endings, right? I guess it's more we hate the end of a good thing...? I know I do. Then I get in my head that I need to find the next best thing ASAP! I think we call those endorphins? Dopamine? Okay I admit I only took the first level anatomy an physiology class, so I'm not 100% sure what I'm talking about...but whatever those good feelings are called I want to get them back as soon as possible! However, what if we never stop? What if we have a good thing, and we just keep going with it? Will it still be so great after a week? A few months? Years? I'm a firm believer that yes, it can be. It will be, but only if we change and develop because of it. 

       To be honest I've developed most of this belief around my parents marriage. This winter they'll have been married 37 years, and if you asked either of them they'd tell you, that overall they're marriage has been a great thing. How is that so? So many people get divorced! Well if you grow and develop together in a positive manner, how could your marriage be anything but great?! So maybe my ideas of good things coming to an end is just a little romantic and far fetched...but I've got almost 37 years of evidence! 

        All this being said, what I'm trying to get at is even though my mission is over and my life has moved forward in the last year, I don't  need to stop writing! I still have good things to report on! For the next few months I've decided to use this space for a project my SPED 310 class has asked me to complete. Let's explore thoughts, ideas and opinions together! 

        For starters, the first week of school is always so HECTIC! Jumping back into the school routine seems to become more difficult with every passing year. However, while I'm trying to stay afloat with classes I was blessed to find some peace in this weeks homework. The four articles assigned to the class included The Doctrine of Inclusion by Elder M. Russell Ballard, The Moving of the Water by Boyd K. Packer, Concern for the One by Joseph B. Wirthlin and Drenched in Gratitude by David A Bednar. While each of these talks was incredible alone, what really impressed me was how well they bridged together. Such a beautiful understanding can be gained of the compassion we need to have for our neighbors (which by the way is everyone!). I'll admit even in reading these talks I felt a small call to repentance from the Spirit! But hey, we can all do a little better right? Although my mission is completed, and I'm in the next phase of my life, I'm still striving everyday to be more Christ like. I know He is my Savior, and each day I rely on Him, I take a small step in His direction!

--Julie