This Saturday the students in my Information Services class will be presenting an exhibition of an instructional media of their choosing. I have chosen to present a software program for special needs students. I intend to create a media center that welcomes special needs students in the same way that general education students are welcomed—thus my choice of media. Since I started working on my exhibition, I have been thinking about the experiences I have had working with special needs children. One of my first experiences was teaching a special art class to a boy with severe autism. What a challenge it was, and yet it was a wonderful challenge. A few classes into the semester he started asking me questions like: what is your name, what is your husband's name, what is your daughter's name, etc. At first I would answer and then try to quickly divert his attention to the task at hand, however he was relentless with his repetition of questions. When his mother picked him up after class, she mentioned that he had been showing signs of trying to converse with others. After mulling this situation over for a week with no revelations, I met with the student again, and again he started in with the constant repetition of questions. For some reason, I suddenly started telling him stories about myself; stories about my childhood and even current, everyday stories about my life. He was quiet and I wasn't sure if he was listening or not. I just kept on talking. Then finally he asked me a question about the story I was telling. I answered and then continued on. He later asked another question and then another. Just retelling this story on my blog makes my heart leap, because it was such a magnificent moment. He had been trying to converse with me before, only he didn't know how. When I provided the information he was able to respond with an appropriate question. I felt like Annie Sullivan—at least for that moment! From this and other experiences I have had, I know that special needs children deserve an education just like every other child does. And a media center provides equal access to information to all patrons, even the most special ones.
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