McCall is my 3rd kid. She is beautiful, intelligent and feisty. Emphasis on the feisty. I have no idea where she got that quality from. (ahem) McCall switched from majoring in nursing to majoring in special ed. I won’t lie, Reed and I have tried to get her to change her mind. Teaching in this state is like making your way through an active mine field. Teaching in special education in this state is even worse. How about a sweet career as a Speech Therapist, we practically beg. My McCall, like all of my other kids, has a mind of her own and quickly blew both her Mama and her Dad right off. Her calling is set. She’ll teach those she holds dearest to her heart, kids with special needs.
McCall is attending BYU and was asked to serve on the BYU student council. She’s the very first special education representative from the McCay School of Education to ever receive this honor. I was thinking that this might be a great way for my daughter to meet some guys, but yet again I was blown off.
This girl takes her education and her advocacy for those with special needs very seriously.
Each member of the BYU student council has been asked to present and implement a project that reflects their field of study. McCall presented the idea of providing a course of continuing education for those, like her little brother, with intellectual disabilities.
She was politely shut down by Someone of Importance as she presented her idea.
The response was given that there were a lot of really smart kids who are turned down entrance into BYU, how were they supposed to make room for the intellectually disabled?
Er. Dude. You totally missed the point.
McCall pointed out that the local state university accepts those with intellectual delays and provides opportunities for those with special needs interested in furthering their education. Sure, maybe that furthering is done in art classes verses advance Trig and Functions classes. So? I don’t know about you, but one high school Trig class was enough to last me a lifetime.
Mr. Person of Importance replied that the local state university accepted everyone. I give this guy credit for using the word everyone instead of anyone. He was pretty smooth, alright. Makes me wonder if he’s had this conversation before.
BYU’s motto is “The Glory of God is Intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.“ (D&C 93:36) I refuse to believe that God only recognizes one form of intelligence. If there is one thing I know, the light and truth that resides within those like my son shines brightly if we only take the time to really look.
What plans do you have for your child with special needs after they leave the public school system?
About Tammy and Parker
Twitter: kadiera
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Hm. We only are just starting our time in public school. Graduation seems so far away. We aren’t quite sure what the path is between here and there, but everyone is leaning towards believing that both of my children will eventually graduate with diplomas and move out into the world.
We have degrees in technical fields. What we’ve learned is that money doesn’t bring happiness, and what we wanted for our children long before they came along was happiness, above all else, people who love them, and a job that allows them to feed and clothe and house themselves (and it has to be something legal).
Since we still don’t even know what exactly Julia HAS, it’s a game of see what each year brings. So, we have no idea what will be best when she graduates. I am hoping she will go to UVU like her stepdad and they do have great programs for disabled students. What a shame that the intellectually disabled are not viewed as being worthy to go to BYU; and to be fair, now that the school is so big, UVU is on the brink of getting more choosy about it and not doing open enrollment, so soon it won’t be “anyone” that can go.