The
Full Spectrum household is always on the lookout for experiences and resources
that are neither inspiration porn nor negative Nellie-ism. We’ve recently had
the pleasure of encountering two such items, and wanted to share them with
readers:
It
looks like this documentary is showing on most PBS stations on or around the 15th
of April (I was able to attend the premier here in Vermont). Students, families
and educators who experience learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia,
executive function challenges and/or ADHD/ADD will see themselves reflected in
this documentary in a really beautiful way. So will everybody else! It's just a
great piece about persistence and believing in others and ourselves and the
amazing results of that magical combination of effort and faith.
The gaze of Burns’ film seems to rest on every individual with equal weight, conferring
complete humanity and dignity on each in a way that nicely avoids inspirational
clichés. Instead – and rightly so! – his
subject matter is people, learning, together.
Please take a gander. I’ve read and re-read this simple, magnificent message. The really wonderful thing about Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's approach is his clear recognition that ALL people have inherent value, as well as the capacity to dream and to realize those dreams. While we do need to meet people where they are, there is much to be said for not imposing a priori limits on what people may achieve for ANY reason.
People
with disabilities are so often "tolerated," so often expected to have
smaller dreams. The Secretary-General explicitly calls the United Nations (and
the world in general) to task for just such attitudes and dares to demand more
for people with autism (and, by implication, all people with differences from
the "norm"). In his vision, “economic constraints” do not trump
empowerment – and different abilities do not preclude fulfilling education and
gainful employment. Comprehensive inclusion and acceptance are his mighty
watchwords.
I see
neurodiversity as one of the big civil rights issues of the new millennium. Ken
Burns and the Greenwood School students and faculty, along with Ban Ki-moon,
are influential and wise agents of progress in this arena.
Love,
Full
Spectrum Mama
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