Yesterday from 5-6pm I attended Barb Rentenbach's presentation. I am a special education major and I have a great deal of interest in people with autism.
It is always so interesting to see how they live their lives. Barb is no different than you and I. Although she cannot effectively verbal engage in conversations, she is still cognitively there. It amazes me in so many ways that she is now able to communicate through her typing device, and the impact Lois has had on Barb's life.
In Barb's book, she describes her life as being just as normal as ours. She is no different. She has all the same wants and needs, but maybe more complex fears. She still experiences life in ways that we do, and she wants others to understand this. She is an advocate for those with any disability, in particular autism.
"Dear teachers, embrace your power" are the words Barb typed onto the screen. This was very inspiring to me as a future special educator. We must embrace what we have learned to help our students become all they can be. We must also remember that all of our students are capable of anything, and never to assume less of them.
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