One of DC’s
favorite musicals – and there are plenty- is the Sound Of Music.
He was
introduced to the Sound Of Music by his cousin Erica, who gave him his first
copy of the movie in VHS form when he was 6 or 7. I never imagined he
would watch it, let alone learn every word to every song, but he did. It
is still one of his favorites.
He has the
DVDs, the soundtrack, the album insert, books (which were not easy
to find), Christmas ornaments, music box, he dressed as “Snowflakes
that stay on my nose and eyelashes”
for
the “Sound Of Music Sing-A-Long” a few years back….. you get the picture…… he
loves it.
**I am fortunate to have friends that are willing to go all out
for something that DC loves so much; we all took a line from that song and
dressed appropriately for the Sing-A-Long. He and his friends had a ball and I
think after the initial embarrassment, my friends did as well.
While I was
trying to endure this version, my mind went back to DC’s time in the school
system and more specifically, the mainstream portion of his time there……
–….this is
the way my mind works……
I am all for
inclusion and mainstreaming, IF it is done properly. In Dc’s
case, there were many battles over many years because it was not.
Just a few
examples: His history class was studying Apartheid and DC was
coloring pictures of Africa.
His history
class was studying Nazi Germany and he was sent off to
watch “The Sound of Music” (because that’s a true and
complete picture of Nazi Germany) .
Inclusion?
- I don’t think so! I understand that these concepts were somewhat out of
his reach, but if nothing else, shouldn’t this inclusion include social
interaction with peers and some sort of participation in and with the
class? How did they call this “Inclusion” when he was
coloring in the back of the room or in another room watching an entirely
different movie?
As we were
watching “The Sound of Music Live” and singing “Edelweiss” together – as is
mandatory, I remembered one teacher, years ago; his second grade teacher, Mrs.
Fair* . She went out of her way to not only include DC in the class BUT,
believe it or not, to also include the entire class in activities that DC
enjoyed. She made him a part of this class. He was not an observer or off on
the side lines, he was a part of the class.
I can give you
many examples of the things she did to achieve this, but the one that came
to mind that night was; She was aware of DC’s love for the “Sound Of
Music” and his love for “Edelweiss”. She had the entire class learn all of the
words to the song and once or twice a week, she and DC would lead the class in
song. He loved it! She made sure he was part of this class, she made sure
his “inclusion” was not just one- sided, she made sure he was comfortable with
his classmates and better yet, they were comfortable with him. He just adored
her.
It is
unfortunate that she was the exception and not the norm. He still remembers her
all these years later and the Sound of Music is still one of his “Favorite
Things”
*Name changed
**Yes, he is
getting the DVD and soundtrack for Christmas, but he can watch/listen to it in
his room
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