“Children, after all, are not just
adults-in-the-making. They are people whose current needs and rights and experiences
must be taken seriously.” - Alfie Kohn
I like to compare my
advocacy journey to a dip in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean on an early
summer morning. Invested and up to my waist in water at this point, I am
committed to seeing my goal come to fruition and diving into the unfamiliar water. I am already halfway there.
Am I excited? YES! Am I anxious? Absolutely! What
excites me the most is how my efforts have the potential to change the lives
and experiences of exceptional children and parents whose faces I may never see.
I have spent years advocating for various needs of individual children in assorted
preschool settings. However, this is the first time that I have vehemently
advocated for children that I did not know personally. At the same time I am
plagued by self doubt and lack of confidence. Am I qualified to carry out such
an advocacy plan? Will my goals be attainable? When I am through with this
class will I continue to advocate for this cause and reach my long term goal?
I feel competent in my
knowledge of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the preschool classroom; however,
I am concerned how others will perceive me. Will they take me seriously? I am
still a student. How does a research paper plus 15 years of experience make me
an “authority” on ASD? To overcome self
doubt, I will need to believe in myself and my ability to carry out my plan.
And if that does not happen in the next few weeks, I will hold my head up high,
"act" like I know what I am doing, put my apprehensions aside and focus on the
children whose lives may be bettered as a result of my advocacy work.
I encourage everyone to
look beyond their inhibitions as they venture further into their advocacy
project. When I reflect upon my life experiences there has been a common theme;
the most significant periods of change came when I moved outside my comfort
zone. I challenge each of you to put aside your fears and remember why you chose
to embark on this journey to begin with. For those of you looking to send some
encouragement my way, a few words of affirmation as to my ability to educate
others on the topic of ASD would be greatly appreciated.
