In addition to commenting on this original post/question, create your own post to share your reflections based on your reading this week.
- How does language work to empower people?
- What is the connection between power and privilege?
- What is your own personal commitment to using people-first language?
I think that perceptions of others play a role in the success of all children, with or without disabilities. All through out life, we all want a sense of belonging, approval, affirmation, etc. When children with disabilities feel that they are looked at differently, no matter what that perception maybe, that can break down what pride and importance they hold. Again, I feel like this is true with every child. If we as people in this world choose to have negatives perceptions of others, who are we to expect them to succeed when we aren't giving them the proper tools to do so. Everyone deserves positive, encouraging perceptions from others, success is an opportunity that can stem from these things. With this encouragement and support, all children, especially children with disabilities will believe they can conquer anything they want to, matching their ability to do so.
ReplyDeleteLanguage works to empower others because everyone wants to be loved and cared for. When people say negative comments it only tears other down when we should really be building each other up. Power and privilege go hand in hand because they play off of each other. You can't have power and abuse your privileges and vise versa. My personal commitment is to treat everyone with respect regardless of the situation and to try to put their feelings first.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how both of you have identified the importance of perception and language is for everyone. These are areas that impact all of us. Do you or others think it has a greater impact on those who have a disability or not?
ReplyDeleteYes, I definitely think perception of others plays a role in the success of the child. If the teacher has a preconceived notion about the student (or their disability) than she might, unknowingly, be bias of how capable or how intelligent that particular student may actually be. Thus giving that child too much or too little attention based on her preconceived thoughts.
ReplyDeletePerceptions plays a pretty big part in the development of anyone. Having a negative perception can affect the child's self esteem and bring down their own self worth. This makes it hard for them to even want to try anymore when negative preconceptions are already placed upon them whether one meant to have them or not.
ReplyDeleteHow others perceive you can really make a difference. All it really takes is for one person to believe in a child, someone to say "Hey, you can do this." It really lifts up their confidence. This is especially true for children with disabilities because society looks at them and sees what they can't do before what they can do. When they are reminded of this they can easily break down. I agree with Sarah, any child is likely to break down when they feel that people look down on them. However I feel like people who have a disability need a little extra encouragement to feel like they can succeed. It can really hurt their feelings, and anyone else's for that matter, if they feel that no one has hope for them. If you believe they can do it, so will they. I personally want to make sure I am encouraging rather than disrespectful. Using peoples first language will make sure that I can communicate without crossing a disrespectful line. On another note when you have power, you generally have a privilege. If you are not appreciative of both it is very easy to abuse them, and when you abuse one you abuse the other.
ReplyDeleteI personally think that the perceptions of others does play a role in the success of children with disabilities because we offer encouragement and support to them. Just this past week, a freshmen girl rushed for a sorority. She has a physical disability that requires her to use a wheelchair. One night, it was specified that the girls should wear heels while they went to rush. She wore heels but the heels were so tight that they made her feet purple and swollen. When asked why she did not tell anyone, she replied that she wanted to be like the other girls. On the last night of recruitment, she decided to wear socks and converses. All of the other girls also going through recruitment decided to surprise her and also wear socks and converses. All of these girls decided to support and encourage her to be herself. I absolutely think that others play a role in the lives of people who have disabilities.
ReplyDeleteI believe that perceptions do play a role in the success of those with a disability. As individuals we should not see a person through their disability but see them for the talents they posses and what qualities make them unique. Just because little Kate can not run due to having cerebral palsy does not mean we should define her because of this. She could posses other talents such as painting or writing. In high school I was a student teacher for a kindergarten class. My job was to work with little kids who had a disability or were put on an IEP list. From working with these students for two semesters I learned that all they need to succeed is for someone to believe in them and encourage them to accomplish their goals. By giving these students encouragement it lets them know you see them past their disability. I agree with Sarah in that negative comments can break a student down. Language can work to empower others depending on whether or not the language is positive or negative. Negative language can ruin someones confidence and make them feel as if they are incapable to completing such activities. I agree with Emily that privilege and power go hand in hand. When we receive the privilege to do something we should not destroy this privilege even if we have the power to do so. I agree with using People-first language because we should not define someone based off of their disability but rather for the type of person they are and the talents that make them unique. Everyone wants to be accepted in this world for who they are even those with a condition they can not prevent. No matter who we are or what we do we are all unique and that is what we want to be defined as.
ReplyDeleteI think the perceptions of others plays a huge role in the success of children with disabilities. If children with disabilities saw us calling others with out disabilities stupid because they didn't know something or couldn't do it, they may be hurt because they didn't know that either. Or, if we used names such as "retard" around people with disabilities they may feel like that name means something bad, and may feel like something is wrong with them. If we used kind and encouraging words around children with disabilities they will have those kinds of thoughts in their head. They won't be afraid to ask questions or feel bad about themselves if they don't know how to do something or what something is. We should speak kindly with any and all people so everyone can be encouraged and encourage others.
ReplyDelete1.) Language can empower people in many ways. A lot of people use language to empower themselves by putting others down. Some may think that if they make someone else feel bad about themselves by pointing out their flaws then that makes them better. No. We shouldn't let those people have the power. By letting them get you down, you're giving them the power. How ever, children with disabilities may not be able to understand that those people have issues of their own and that will just put them down. Hey, even people with out disabilities still take hurtful words to heart. But, instead of being hateful, we could all empower each other by talking each other up. Compliment others, give words of encouragement, even give advice to make people a better them. All of these things can empower others and while you're doing that you should also start feeling better about yourself.
2.) The connection between power and privilege is that privileges are given to you and can be taken away, while power is what you make yourself. You can take full advantage of your privileges and gain power from them. Or, you could lose your privileges by doing something wrong or just not using them to their full advantage. Power is earned. You work for power and some people are gain power through different ways. Whether it be bullying others, bribing, or just being well liked, you have to do something to get power.
3.) My own personal commitment is to treat everyone kindly and with encouragement, like I previously stated. I want everyone to want to be the best them they can be and I will strive to help everyone I encounter get there. Whether it be a small gesture like saying bless you when someone sneezes, to staying after school numerous hours when I'm a teacher helping that one student who just doesn't get it. Every little word and gesture you do can have a tremendous impact on some one's life so I have to stay mindful of that at all times.
Yes, I believe that the way people see someone with a disability will have an impact on that child's life. Weather its positive or negative how someone sees you will always have an impact on how you go about you life and who you become. Sadly most of these perceptions on children are negative and negativity has bad impacts on someones life even those without disabilities.
ReplyDelete1.) Language is one of the main things that empowers someone, but it can also disempower someone. If you use positive language and show kindness to a person your going to be empowering them and helping to see a good out come of their life, but if you use negativity you will be disempowering them and that could have a harsh empact on them.
2.) I think privlage and power go together in the same way, they can both be taken away. having a privlage is having an opertunity. Having power is an abitlity to do whatever you want, but they both can be taken away.
3.) My commitment is to not to perceive someone nagativitly. I will make sure to not judge someone by how they look, but get to know them and be positive to them. I wont just do this t people with disabilities but also those without. Those that I have not got to know yet. I will be kind and helpful and walways put them first.
I do think that perceptions play a role. The way people see you is so widely impacted on our society today. Our perceptions of people are the first judgments we make of people. The perceptions of a child with disability is usually negative which is sad. We should not be so judgmental but it is the way that we are brought up. Our perceptions should not impact the relationships we make with people.
ReplyDeleteI think perceptions play a big role in children's success. A negative attitude from anybody can be challenging to overcome especially as a child. Children want to feel loved and if a child is not being loved the way he or she sees other kids being loved, they won't feel as special and it'll be harder for them to feel accepted.
ReplyDeleteI believe perceptions make an impact in the success of all children. Similar to that, language also plays a key role in empowering people. By using people's names and referring to them as a person, versus a disability or a hurtful term, students feel a sense of pride. They are not defined as a disability or inability, but yet by their name. I believe by using People's First Language, we can begin to make a stronger, more effective, revelation in the way people approach others with disabilities.
ReplyDeleteI strongly believe that perceptions of others play a role in the success of children with disabilities because the way that adults perceive students makes them feel comfortable or uncomfortable. People with disabilities want to be treated just like any other human, they don't want special treatment.
ReplyDeleteI believe that perceptions of others strongly have an effect and play a role in the way children with disabilities succeed and progress. I feel like the way that adults treat children makes the child feel comfortable and want to do better in class. Negative attitudes in children's life with make them less successful. Everyone wants to be treated equal in life and everyone likes to have comfort.
ReplyDeletePerception of others plays a role in the success of children with disabilites. For Example: A child seems to understand the curriculum being taught by his general education teacher but does not do well "on paper" (test,homework). The teacher adamantly expresses her belief that the student is smart but is just being lazy. He seems to understand the work just refuses to do it. She recommends to the boys mother that she hold him back a year so he can "grow up." The mother feeling overwhelmed, holds her son back the following year but has him tested for a learning disability. The diagnosis- Dyslexia. Much time was wasted on a presumption instead of putting effort into other ideas or methods to help this child not only learn but progress to the next level. Not to mention the blow to his self-esteem constantly in trouble for not trying hard enough when in fact he was.
ReplyDeleteThere is also a perception that a child who has been properly identified as an exceptional learners can not learn as effectively as non-disabled children. In the words of Albert Einstein- "Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing it is stupid."
Everyone has their own way of learning.
I believe that the perception of others plays a key role in the success of adolescents with disabilities. In our everyday routines we will commonly see someone with a handicap or disability. If I were to go up to fellow students and ask them their initial thoughts about these people the responses would be very similar. Most people would respond by saying they felt pity or felt grateful that it wasn't them. We seem to stereotype that people with disabilities are completely incapable of performing any task alone. If we all think this way how is it possible to teach them or help them in any way? If we all believe that they cant succeed, then they will begin to believe too. People with disabilities are the same as any other person walking on the street. If we treat everyone the same, and encourage everyone to succeed they will feel that positive encouragement and want to succeed.
ReplyDelete1) All Students Need To Be Given Equal Oppertunities. WhenThey Are Young It May Be Hard To Tell If They Have A Disability. But If A Student Is Struggling It's Our Job To Help Them To Make The Oppertunitues Equal So Every Student Can Be Successful.
ReplyDelete2.)The Biggest Benefit Of Inclusion Is That The Student Can Get A Sense Of Normalcy. They Will Still Need To Be able To Function In A Normal Environment, They May Just Get Some Extra Help To Do So.