worth living when you think of your life
what makes you happy what makes you
smile but what are they tuned to get up
in the morning we’ll get you here if any
of you are thinking money or the
potential turn money you’re totally
talking to the wrong person because I’m
a teacher I get paid unless people are
motivated by family and my pets
relationships are what makes us tick we
crave it for wire for it we want to be
social we want to connect contribute and
the long everyone i’m lee mirman a bio
material science professor at UCLA has
shown that we are definitely wired to be
social and the social interactions that
we make in our lives greatly impacts our
workplaces our schools and our will roll
personal well-being this topic is near
and dear to my heart as you know I am a
teacher but the bbr specific I’m a
special education teacher I work with
high school age students with moderate
severe differently people want to belong
to individuals with disabilities are no
different community members connect with
each other they belong today I’m going
to talk about disability
illusion and I want to pose a question
to do all your community the first law
according to the CDC findings on
disability prevalent in 2013 one in
every five adults the United States has
a disability we do the math that’s 53
million people not quite the population
size of South Africa oh I want to ask
you do you know someone with a
disability in your life me good he’s one
of my students he’s a high school senior
and he’s her parents into the workforce
very soon he’s nonverbal and he speaks
with assistance of the communication
device here he is participating in my
district special photograph and I watch
your secret about it he hates my high
school men’s basketball team wanted to
come along in the reserve we brought
them along they r every they took score
they kept time but there were quite a
few differences on the sidelines between
them they all fought over a position of
helping students on the court hey got
just help my students there were over
200 high school students they’re
participating they helped everyone shoot
dribble pass at the most important part
of their contribution is a awesome
encouragement and praise so take a look
Nick the man who hates that he obviously
didn’t find tight net baby
here is helping and supporting them
individuals with disabilities are often
expected to complete menial tasks after
high school after graduation sheltered
workshops flop and hire these
individuals to do tasks like folding
letters stuffing envelopes packaging
smiling cuz doing will work is also home
can you imagine preparing for your
lifelong career and an end result is you
clean toilets % individuals these
position might be a good fit but it’s
not uncommon that individuals with
disabilities and their vocational
careers are not suited to their
preferences or their strengths add
another student of mine free to meet his
name is Dorian can you point out the
right and I’ll give you a head he has a
football uniform on if you can’t that
makes me very happy because that’s the
point last year Dorian tried out for two
sports teams the first sport he tried
out for most affable he got the second
floor he made the team here at an anchor
for his track and field relay team very
recently went through a few team members
came up to me and voiced some concerns
about boring he was worth ignoring of
being bullied okay tell me more those
teammate that the I heard Dorian’s name
around there and commerce
circled on campus not your positive way
so he wanted to make sure that I was
looking into it and he wanted to assure
me that Dorian was looked after this
made me very happy this I was very
cheerful that day this proved to me that
Dorian belonged on campus because of
friendships like this Dorian’s full life
change he was supported on campus he was
looked after he had fun people the tabs
people to have lunch with all students
this year he’s a sophomore he tried out
for the wall and he made the JV team
three times Dorian was the team captain
is how feasible his football team eats
meat no special accommodations for him
Dorian’s physical efforts were of no
concern he could do anything anyone has
to him physically both of his coaches
sang praises an athlete use phrases like
110 percent never complained even earn
the most inspirational player award this
season but I didn’t tell you is that
Jorian seriously struggles with
communication my Christmas Dorian last
year he all been granted with shake his
head I call on him in class and heat
shrug his shoulders even though I knew
pretty sure he knew the answer because
he had all those sports practices his
mom got her phone and my clothes
teenagers you get a smirk mom you
immediately get an Instagram account so
I was happy to follow the ring and see
what he hears about and soon after i
unfold it I hated they were all like you
feel that my feed he blew it up several
times a day might be
was filled with Power Rangers and
and although I couldn’t I couldn’t do it
anymore so in class I pulled him aside
and I told the mine in and Wyatt and as
a teacher you may know that sometimes
teachers give unsolicited suggestion so
I suggested that he filled his feet in
most pictures of people and activities
that you love then I would call well if
you go Dorian my item branch he wouldn’t
let that go later that week he wanted to
make sure that in front of the class he
had these day he showed everyone that
you managed three Instagram accounts
with over 2,000 followers each he was
very happy to point out that i only had
200 I got to take a step back and pull
them I’ll shut up yeah I guess I do
nothing all of these two dudes have
autism and they love to come to school
unfortunately now because of a lovely
sound of my voice or the wonderful
gustan isn’t test I give them but they
come to school to be with their friends
they feel safe individuals with
disabilities will typically attend
school to the age of 22 the puzzles will
be taking after graduation focus on them
finding a job for fun these adults stay
home play video games neck lips eat
sounds fun right wait outside of their
own families individuals that hang out
with these adults are typically paying
too
elman and to supervise if someone’s paid
to be around you that relationship is
stigmatized from the start it’s not
authentic everyone deserves authentic
relationships in our students adults
he measured on your school campus a
poster oh and the headline says learn
skills colleges wants not hot in that
advancing pure bodies to individuals of
the civilities can learn to be better
communicators and to the overall better
peers colleges are actively seeking
students who demonstrate kindness
compassion and concern there are many
ways that you can include individuals
with disabilities into your community
without making it as a deed or a project
you can start on your campus today and
ask the special dictation feature if
they know what a student who is in need
of a friend you can go online check out
resources like best buddies they’re the
leading organization for integrated
relationships it’s a good place to start
join your pure buddy group on campus
invite someone you have lunch with you
take a new friend to school event with
you and your friends includes it is
their femaleness like a picture of
social media but don’t want to stop it
get to note let’s go up as shared
stakeholders in our community
I’m going to be comfortable do something
for your community or putting yourself
in your discomfort tub what I’m asking
you is it the new it’s not rocket
science it’s a challenge a challenge to
be kind I be an example and still love
not in respect individuals with
you [Applause]