October is Disability History and Awareness Month, which aims to increase awareness and understanding of the contributions that people with disabilities in our state, nation, and the world have made to our society. Recognizing disability history also increases respect and promotes acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities in schools and in all parts of society.
In observation of disability awareness, we asked several teachers to answer a few questions to share their perspective about working with students in Special Education.
Hailey Leighton has been a Special Education teacher at Madison Elementary School for four years, and also supports Arlington Elementary School this year.
What do you love most about working with students in Special Education?
I love just being with the kids and enjoying all the silly moments and hard work that they put in every day. Even on the hard days, they always work to put a smile on their faces and those around them.
What are the biggest challenges have you experienced in your position, and how do you and your team overcome them?
The biggest challenge that I have faced so far is splitting time between buildings. It has been difficult to manage scheduling and workload while serving students to the best of my ability. However, every school has been welcoming and understanding of the circumstances. Teachers have been so willing to collaborate with me and help support in providing the best services for our students. I wouldn't be able to do it without their willingness to collaborate. They're all amazing!
As someone who works with and is an advocate for students with disabilities, what would you most like our community to know about your work and your students?
I think the most important thing to remember is that at the end of the day, our students are just that – our students. They are kids who want to do their best; they just don't always know how, and we are here to facilitate that and support them in doing so. We work as a team, but I will always do my best to do what is right for these kids and provide them with what they need.