 |
| Zeke Grissom, Jessee Cooper and Drew Gibbs *. photo courtesy of Starcasm.net |
 |
| Scott Maloney and Homecoming Queen *. photo courtesy of ABC news.com |
As parents, you'd want a loving environment for your children not only at home but also in school where they spend most of their time growing up, making friends and developing their characters. When I read this article it reduced me to tears. I was proud of Scott Maloney, the beloved special needs kid with the Williams disease but I was equally proud of the 3 nominated kids (Jesse Cooper, Drew Gibbs and Zeke Grissom) who unselfishly looked past their worldly satisfaction to honor a person with disability and make him feel special. Hooray!
As a mother of a child with autism, you live with the stigma of this condition. You have to deal with how people stare at your child, talk in whispers, laugh and even make fun of his behavior. All these happening when I am present and I could just imagine how things would unfold if I am not there. I've learned to tune these things out but at times I take a head-on approach too.
As seen in the news, there seems to be a growing number of unfathomable and horrifying stories especially in the US about how schools lead to its students' deaths be it in the form of shooting massacres and bullying either resulting to death or suicide. And when it is time to call for action, there seems to be no united stand on where to even begin: gun control, stricter enforcement of the anti-bullying act, mental illness issues, security measures in schools... but the heart of these murders is rooted on the murderers' feelings of helplessness, discrimination, being an outcast.
The story on Scott Maloney truly uplifts the spirit in the wake of all these sad stories. It also presents something fundamental: the simplest of gestures - the act of kindness and selflessness, which are always the hardest to learn and practice especially so in this day and age and perhaps, if we can only start or go back there (at home, in school, everywhere) the world will be a much better place.
Excerpts from several articles about this Happy News:
Liz Gassaway, a teacher in Unionville Community High School, believes that the nearly 500-student school in Tennessee, is "one of the best schools in the world when it comes to dealing with special needs children."
Jesse Cooper, who won the popular vote said, “I’ve been blessed with so many things. I just wanted Scotty to experience something great in his high school days.” When Cooper’s name was announced, the principal of the school stepped in and let the crowd know what the young men had decided. The gathered assembly of fellow classmates and teachers stood and gave Scotty a 30-second standing ovation once he was named king.
Students like Cooper help out in special needs gym classes and other activities. Gassaway said the boys' gesture toward Maloney sent a greater message.
"We want people to have more empathy towards people, not be scared of people with disabilities," she said. "We want to embrace them, more like the boys did."
If you know of any Happy News just like this, share them here.
 |
| *. photo courtesy of ABC News.com |
 |
| *. photo courtesy of ABC News.com |
No comments:
Post a Comment