Helping Them Shine Through Advocacy for Children With Special Needs

I look at the term ‘Children with Special Needs’ as a sort of oxymoron. I say this because all children have special needs. When I was in school, I had a difficult time with Math and Organizational skills. For others it may be Reading, Writing, or the acquisition of Language skills, not to mention the area of Social/Personal skills.

When I decided to become a Special Education teacher my decision was based on my personal experience as a student.

I attended a parochial school from Kindergarten through the 5^th grade. My Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Butterkey, will always be my first educational Nurturer of Champions. She instilled a belief in me that I could do anything and started me on my journey for my love for creativity through the arts and writing. I am truly thankful to the Nuns at Marymount who tirelessly helped me through my trying times during elementary school. If it hadn’t been for Sister Cecil, I don’t think I ever would have been able to tell time or count money. In high school, it was Mr. Jonas Morris who guided me through Algebra and Geometry. God Rest and Bless his patient soul!

Back in the 60’s my mother secured a tutor for me for Math but after the first session, he told my mother, that he didn’t understand why he had been hired because I seemed to be able to do all the tasks he put in my path. This led to the conclusion that I must be a ‘DAY Dreamer’. I used to tell my mom that I could do anything when it came to math while at school but once I left that environment and would attempt the nightly homework, what I saw on the page became Greek to me and I could not pull the information from my brain to be able to complete the work even with written samples right in front of me. Learning my times tables took many, many, written drills and rote practice. I dare say, more than what would normally be needed to be done in order to commit these facts to memory.

Back then there was no ‘Label’, or at least I am not aware of a label for children with Specific Learning Difficulties or Attention Deficit Disorder. I believe this was a good thing, for even though I, today, believe this is what caused my struggle, I wasn’t aware of this, and so was encouraged to keep trying my best. With the attitude of ‘You can do it’ being constantly thrust before me I eventually did do it! I ended up on the Dean’s list at Florida State University and Graduated with Honors.

Every child needs a coach in their corner. Some children are blessed with parents that can provide this. Some children are not so fortunate, because even in the well meaning intent of their parent, their parent may lack the skills necessary to bring out the best in their child, educationally speaking. With the prevalence of the single parent home and the fact that there are so fewer stay at home moms today, exhaustion and the need to recoup from their own day at work and daily stresses, often come before going over homework with their child. It has been my experience that for some, not many, but some, after school work is placed last on the priority ‘to do’ list. It seems that some families feel that their child should get all the drill and practice needed to master benchmark standards during the hours they are in attendance at school. Some even outwardly voice their opposition to homework being assigned at all.

This is where the Teacher enters and is, in my opinion, the most important influence in a child’s developing mind; helping them shine through advocacy for children with special needs. All children need this kind of advocate; someone whose sole purpose it is to encourage them to be their best. They also need to be there to provide them with guidance, and a practical approach, to achieve their end goal.

Do you remember the three most influential teachers you ever had?

At the age of 52, I still feel like a student. I continue to be influenced by my teachers. I am thankful for the advocates in my life who have encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and try new endeavors.

Math, once my nemesis, is now a joy in my everyday living. Thanks to John Washenko, Skyler Witman, Matt Lovelady, and Jonathan Bonnette, co-founders of United First Financial®, I have: been taught, learned about, and now have, the best tool for handling the coming and going of my everyday finances, and am scheduled to be debt free in less than 11 years.

Thanks to United First Financial, I am now able to teach others and provide them with the only educational tool they’ll need to also become debt free. They showed me that it is just Math, not magic, and the Money Merge Account® makes this all effortless. I have a live team of advocates at my disposal if I ever need them and lifetime support. That is what education is all about! I have found my mentors for this, the second half of my first hundred years on this planet, and am thankful to have been at the right place at the right time to have been able to be taught by them. You can learn too, by contacting me, or your nearest Independent United First Financial Agent.