By: Kristine Hoffman & Lindy McBratney Lindy and Kristine, who both are teachers in the Structured Learning Classroom (SLC), are sharing today’s blog post. The SLC classroom means their days are spent with students who require a high degree of structure within their school day. They receive individual and small-group instruction in a setting outside of the general classroom. Instruction in pre-academic, academic, functional, communication, social, behavioral, and independent living skills is provided on an individual and small-group basis. The stories Lindy and Kristine share today on the blog will maybe give a little insight into how their personal experiences in their family align perfectly with their days here at Hoyt. It will also shed light why it’s both their personal and professional commitment to “signing the pledge” during Respect Week and why they encourage all of us to do the same. "Be a teammate. Be a friend. Welcome someone who has been left out. Sit next to someone alone at lunch. Say hello to someone in the hallway. There are so many ways to spread inclusion. Choose yours. Make a pledge and start today. Join us to make inclusion a reality for all people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. Make your pledge." Hello! Our names are Ms. McBratney and Mrs. Hoffmann and we both teach students with intellectual disabilities. Both of us have been personally impacted by individuals with intellectual disabilities our entire lives. Mrs. Hoffmann: My older sister Kathrine has autism. Growing up with my sister had its ups and downs just like any other family. Our favorite things to do together is go shopping, bike riding, and looking at old family photos together. Having my sister in my life taught me a lot about myself. I learned that I am caring towards others, I see beyond what others can or can’t do, and that I was meant to work with individuals with intellectual disabilities. Without my sister in my life, I wouldn’t be on the path that I am today. Ms. McBratney: My older sister Jessica has Down Syndrome. Growing up with a sibling with a disability was the same and different all at once from everyone else. We still fought and loved each other like “typical” sisters. Having a sister with a disability caused me to grow up faster than my peers, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t think I would be the person I am today or have the job I have, if I didn’t have my sister in my life. Our hope for Respect Week is to spread awareness about individuals with intellectual disabilities. For our students, we want them to be treated with respect by everyone, to be held to high standards, and included within our school community. The Revolution is Inclusion! Tip from Lindy and Kristine: Use person first language! Instead of saying “autistic person”, you would say “person with autism”. On March 4th (today!) people will take action to spread the word about inclusion. Please consider signing the CHOOSE TO INCLUDE pledge today at lunch and encourage your students to do the same. Make it "official" when you click on this site: www.spreadtheword.global/pledge
If you want to see even more about how others are spreading the word about inclusion around the world as they "make the pledge", check this out: www.spreadtheword.global/
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