My senior year as a high school student was exciting. As for all High School seniors, the final year of high school can have its bittersweet moments, as well as having its ups and downs.
That year, I took World History. This subject was not always easy for me, but my teacher did not give up on me. When she saw I struggled with the regular textbook, she found an alternative that was clearer and easier to understand. This simple act made a huge difference! I was also relieved that I could understand and comprehend the material that was given to me out of this new textbook.
My senior year also included English IV or English Literature. I had a lot of fun in that class! That year, I remember learning about Shakespeare’s Hamlet. I also learned how to break down vocabulary words into their own individual syllable meanings. Such as exoskeleton. Near the end of my senior year in English literature, our teacher surprised us with the Harry Potter series! Our teacher picked for us to read, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone! I figured out that my English literature teacher was one of my favorite teachers when I attended Jordan High School. 😉
Setting My Sights On College: My senior year included my dream of going to college after I graduated. Along with my adoptive family and guidance counselor, we explored the possibility of taking the SATs with a one-on-one proctor. While things didn’t go exactly as planned with the exam (sometimes life throws curveballs!), the experience solidified my desire for further education. Today, there are even more resources available to help students with CP navigate the college application process.
Yearbook & Prom: Wrapping up my senior year included purchasing a copy of the 2002-2003 school yearbook and going to the senior prom! Speaking of proms, I didn’t mention this when talking about my second family, Seagull School, but we had them there as well. As soon as you reached middle school age, you were allowed to attend the school’s annual prom, which we always had a lot of fun at! (Don’t believe for a second that kids with disabilities can’t “get down” and hit the dance floor!🕺👩🦼)
My Jordan High School prom was a bit different than what I was used to at Seagull School, as I didn’t have many friends there. I wanted to go by myself to see what it was like and for the experience. However, my favorite English literature teacher (the one I mentioned above!) ended up wanting to be my “chaperone” for the evening! I wore a red, sleeveless one-piece dress with red rhinestones across the top – red’s my favorite color, and of course, it had to have some glitz! My adoptive mom, who’s a hairdresser and cosmetologist, did my hair and makeup for the evening. All in all, my prom night at a regular mainstream high school was okay. I danced a little bit in my chair with my teacher/chaperone and some other classmates who noticed me at the prom.
Graduation Day: At the end of my senior year, I was able to graduate with a regular high school diploma. I joined the class of 2003 as we practiced our “walk” across. the stage the day before graduation. The day of graduation, I remember being very nervous, worried I would forget where I was supposed to be seated with all the “L” last names, as each graduate was in alphabetical order. I felt a rush of excitement as my last name got closer to the announcement list. And as my full name was announced, I remember rolling across the stage, stopping to shake our principal’s hand as he put my diploma on the back of my chair! I also remember hearing applause from some of the audience as they announced my name and I went across the stage in my power chair! 🎓
There are a few more important aspects of my high school experience I’d like to highlight. Assistive technology was a game-changer for me in high school. I was provided with a laptop equipped with a program called “Co-Writer” (which is still available today). Co-Writer is a predictive text program that anticipates the words you’re trying to type – similar to the predictive keyboards on our smartphones today. This program was essential for students like me who might struggle with fast-paced typing.
Final thoughts: I’m sure you’re wondering why I’ve shared my educational experiences. I wanted to let parents of children with CP know that their children can have a similar, or even better, educational journey than I did. I say “even better” because with all of today’s assistive technology and special education advancements, the sky’s the limit for children who have physical limitations or learning difficulties. I wish I’d had access to the incredible assistive technology available today when I was in school. Now, we have voice recognition software that can help your child write a three-page book report, programs that support children with math problem-solving, and even Google can help you solve a math equation!
The most important thing that I think parents of children with any sort of special education need, whether physical or developmental, is to GET TO KNOW YOUR LOCAL ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT! This department can help you and your child achieve educational goals and make learning that much easier.
Your child or student may be apprehensive about using assistive technology at first, especially if they see their peers not using similar programs. Do not give up hope! Reflecting back on my 11th-grade United States history class, I had a classmate who used a typing device to take notes faster. He often preferred to write notes like everyone else, even though it was difficult for him to keep up. One day, our history teacher had us answering textbook review questions using the same type of typing device. At the time, I didn’t understand why, but now I realize she incorporated this technology session to help the student feel less isolated. By having the entire class use the device, she hoped he would see its benefits and embrace it as a valuable learning tool.
