At my son’s friend’s middle school, a student came down with leukemia after fall semester. Fortunately, he went into remission in spring and was able to return to school. All the students were called to an assembly before he returned to explain why this student would be without hair, what had happened to him, and how they could best make him feel comfortable and assist him with the transition back into school. The school also planned a walk to raise money for childhood leukemia.
This boy walked into school and was immediately accepted. This is the model for which we should strive for all of our children facing any kind of health issue.
Over a year ago, my family faced a frightening medical situation. Almost overnight it seemed my 11-year-old son’s body started to shake and convulse, his speech became slurred at times, he started to repeat curse words over and over, and his body made odd movements and noises.
Over the next several months we endured visits to neurologists, oncologists, and other professionals to figure out what was wrong. Mostly by process of elimination it was determined he has Tourette’s syndrome.
But his journey “back into the real world” seemed a lot different from the boy with leukemia. Read more…
This re-post is courtesy of www.kveller.com, where it was originally posted. February is Jewish Disability Awareness Month.
By Judi Weiss Shink
Judi a teacher and co-founder of Enercise Gym, a gym for kids ages 6-14. She has extensive on-the-job experience dealing with a child with disabilities and navigating the school experience while trying to remain a sane, rational, fully functioning human being. She is originally from Milwaukee, WI, and lives with her family in Minneapolis MN. She has two children, ages 10 and 13.
Feature photo courtsey of markaz-e-umeed.
