I've been thinking a lot recently about the terms "special needs" and "disabled" and struggling to either:a) Get over the intermittent pain I feel when those terms are used in a sentence intertwined with my son's name.
or
b) Come up with a cooler term for Special Needs.
Granted, Special Needs is better than many other terms used to describe kids like my son. Words I heard a lot to describe my cousin with Down Syndrome. Compared to those words, Special Needs sounds fabulous. But still, it fails to recognize Little Dude's general awesomeness.
I'm wondering what they would call Special Education at the Jedi Training Academy for Younglings. Probably something great like Advanced Training for the Exceptionally Force-Sensitive. You know, we still haven't gotten the results of our blood work back from our neurologist, Dr. Orville Redenbacher, but I expect it to show that Little Dude's midichlorian count is way high. In fact, it's so high, Little Dude is not just a youngling; he is already a Jedi.
The new name for special education programs is Justice for Exceptionally Developing Individuals (JEDI).
Hence, special ed classrooms would be JEDI classrooms. Special ed teachers can be JEDI teachers. And, most importantly, special ed students can be JEDI students. It has the merchandising appeal of Star Wars, co-branded with the vintage super-power flair of the Justice League. And I love the Justice League. I force my twins to fist-bump while saying "Wonder Twin Powers ... Activate!" for my amusement.
PTOs all over the world will sell JEDI t-shirts and use the money to bring back art teachers and hire more speech therapists. I totally think George Lucas would approve it because he's awesome like that.* And because he already has a wad of cash the size of the Death Star.
Can you imagine? When JEDI students are mainstreamed into inclusion classes, the other kids would be all, ooooh, awesome, we're getting a JEDI. Parents of kids with sensory integration dysfunction would start bragging about how sensitive their kids are ... to the Force.
In the mean time, I'm going to try to get over the heart-stabbing pain I feel when I hear the "special needs" and "disabled" labels. Because while Little Dude does require special education and adaptive education services, those terms define his educational needs, not who he is.
There are some great things about special needs children. You get to fling those traditional milestones out the window and stop stressing about them. You celebrate each small success and the triumphs are that much sweeter. Little Dude teaches me every day the real meanings of patience, perseverance, acceptance, and love.
And he's a JEDI. How awesome is he?
*You know what I love about George Lucas? He's not hoarding all that cash. Check out the George Lucas Educational Foundation's edutopia website.
I LOVE this post! Totally awesome. I hope the Department of Education coops your term!
ReplyDeleteThree cheers for the JEDI!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this post. You have given a voice to others in the same situation. I have mentioned before how my daughter has a friend with SPD and they struggle with the labelling al well.
I once heard someone ask them "what's wrong with her?" to which the mom replied, "Absolutely nothing. She's just perfect"
The way we label individuals that have differences is unfair and harsh. People grow up identifying with the label instead of learning to be an individual.
You are doing a great job coping with all this and I feel that you are being a positive influence to others who are struggling with similar issues.
We usually talk about the boys in terms of Star Wars. Like, don't do that, it might disturb the balance to the force. Or "He had it coming." Or "Luke, I AM YOUR MOTHER. Now put it away!"
ReplyDeleteJedi. I love it. It does sound a lot better than special needs or those other terms people still thoughtlessly use.
ReplyDeleteI never consider my son a special needs child. He is a child with special needs, but definiately a CHILD first! Oh, and he's just "differently-abled" not disabled is all. I LOVE the JEDI idea, but my son wouldn't get it. LOL
ReplyDeleteMay the force be with you!!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post! Keep writing!
ReplyDeleteLove, love, LOVE the name JEDI. Great idea. Even if the DEA doesn't fall into line, I'll probably never think of a child with super-abilities as anything other than a JEDI ever again. :)
ReplyDeleteI love it! I don't know why we couldn't get it in the new DSM we have been waiting for it for about 10,000 years it seems like a small little change could be made :) I am going to tell my sensory son that he is now a Jedi....we will flip! Also I think I will make up a t-shirt he can wear to the store so that when people feel like they should comment on how I need to control my 6 year old I can point to his t-shirt and say he is not acting out of control he is in Jedi training.
ReplyDeleteEhhhhhxclent work, my friend!
ReplyDelete@Jess -- I'm totally making shirts.
ReplyDeleteJEDI, I love it!
ReplyDeleteI am going to continue this and link back to you from my blog, Stress Relief for Caregivers.
Michelle
I.love.this.so.much.
ReplyDeleteAs a special ed teacher, I would totally prefer to be called a JEDI teacher. How awesome would that be??? My son would beg to be in that class. Ha! How cool. You rock, SRMM.
I hate having to post here anonymously, but my family member linked me to this site via FB, and no one knows my son's diagnoses!
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I would love my son to be a JEDI, that would be so cool. Although finally having a name, even if it's "special needs" and "autism" is much better than nothing at all. Especially when his teachers would just look at me like "What is wrong with this child? We know it's something, but WHAT??" I felt that way too.
I'd wear a JEDI shirt, and so would my son. :)
(Ok, it must be a sign, because the captcha was "comout"
@Anonymous -- I know the "what is wrong with this child?" feeling. Honestly, our friends & family have been terrific about Little Dude's Asperger diagnosis. It's sort of like, "ohhhhhhh. Now that makes sense!" Good luck if you decide to come out of the special needs closet! ;)
ReplyDeletevisit www.members.shaw.ca/awesomeangel or search FB for The Dream of an Angel to meet another incredible JEDI who is changing the world around her and teaching everyone about true awesome-ness.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE THIS...I too just cringe whenever someone calls my son disabled or special needs. Just because of the stigma that comes with it from my youth. I don't believe my son to be disabled, nor does he. He is just wired differently and processes information and situations different than the average joe. If that isn't a JEDI...I don't know what is. :)
ReplyDeleteWhile it is a coolterm now, just like the others it will take on a negative connotation over the years if it really was used.
ReplyDeleteInstead of changing it, why not embrace the terms already used and educate people about them?
My only issue with this is that my little guy's middle name is Revan. Yes, a sith. A sith in leg braces!! Can I bring him to the light side? Not until he is over the terrible two's...
ReplyDeleteseriously a wonderful article. thank you!
Passing this on to my sister who's a special teacher...er...Jedi master!
ReplyDeleteKudos to you for taking such a negative & turning into the positive. I feel the force is with you also :)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE it!! I homeschool...so I guess that makes me a JEDI teacher...LOL
ReplyDeleteIf you are really making t-shirts, I totally want one for my little man! I am sick of people staring at us and wondering if I some how did that to him. Why do people run away from our TOTALLY AWESOME KIDS?? They don't even give them a chance. They run away like it will rub off on them or their kids.
ReplyDeleteOoo! I like that! I have a JEDI too! :> (And he would get a kick out of being one! lol) We've had a challenging day today and this was just the post to recharge with...thanks! :>
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this post!! I am a special education technician and I work in a class specifically designed for children with autism. I WANT TO BE A JEDI TEACHER!!! You should absolutely take this name and idea to government or heck even just to George Lucas, cause like you said, he would totally agree!
ReplyDeleteAnd BTW - I totally love reading your blog. It is so nice to have an honest point of view from a Mommy of a JEDI. I wish I could hear it more often. And don't worry, I am taking notes; especially about the IEP's (although we may do things differently here in Québec, Canada).
Keep on what you are doing and I will be tuning in :D
Laurie
I am a school psych intern and next year, when I have my own office, I am TOTALLY stealing, uh I mean borrowing, the ten thousand Star Wars toys my DH has collected and decorating my office with them! If the SpEd teachers are JEDI teachers, that makes me like Yoda right?
ReplyDeletePlease, can a petition for this as an international vocabulary change start immediately?!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
First time here and I'm blown away by your post. I want a T-Shirt!!!! Seriously, you could market them through the different organizations supporting families of JEDI children. I also love how you refer to your child as Little Dude. We have Big Dude and Little Dude in our home. I'm in love with your site and will now be an avid reader and sharer. THANK YOU!
ReplyDeletehehehehe now my other kids are gonna be bummed out that they're not JEDI too! thanks again for some great terms, and a laugh in my day! :OD
ReplyDeleteAs a HS Gen Ed teacher, I would much prefer to work with the Jedi than any others.
ReplyDeleteAs a HS Gen ED teacher with a Psych minor, it's about time they update the DSM IV - it was used when I was in school 12 years ago...Gad I feel old. I think I need a Frodoka! ;)
As a mom, I personally hate labels, of any kind... sort of contradicts my profession huh?
As a mama of a few JEDI's myself I am LOVING this post! :) Stumbled on your blog tonight and it made me laugh. I feel you! :) :(
ReplyDeleteThis is not the diagnosis you are looking for.
ReplyDeleteBtw, you'll probably enjoy this:
http://giftedhomeschoolers.org/articles/hollandresponse.html
Ha! Just found this and this is the best thing ever- I'm going to start introducing my son as a jedi
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this! As a Mommy to a 5 year old JEDI (SPD) I can relate. I can remember when he first started in the Special Ed preschool program 2 years ago and how I hated telling people that he had a diagnosis and needed multiple therapies. Two years-many wonderful teachers and therapists, and a LOT of patience later, he was mainstreamed with a 504 for Kindergarten. We still have a lot to work on-auditory processing, tactile issues and fine motor skills are still problematic for him but he's come SUCH a long way :) I was looking all over the blog, I wanted to shoot you an email but didn't see your email address. If you dont make it public I understand, just had a couple of questions for you :) Love the blog! It cracks me up and I find myself LOL and nodding in agreement quite often.
ReplyDelete@Jennifer -- It's Mommy@starkravingmadmommy.com
ReplyDeleteOne of my daughter's friends from preschool asked me, "Why does Tara have special abilities?" and I loved it. Leave it to a three-year-old to put things in perspective (even if he was using a term his mom shared with him).
ReplyDeletewhere do i get a shirt? i just noticed that one of the boys in my son's class is wearing one in the class photo!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this!!! I want a sign for my classroom so I teach the JEDI class instead of the Severe Disabilities class! Well done!! :)
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love this post! I feel so lucky to be a JEDI educator!
ReplyDeleteLove this!! My son is a JEDI too. Totally sensitive to the Force!
ReplyDeleteFunny you should mention throwing out your "What to Expect" book. Here's a post about that! http://www.sprucekidsblog.com/2011_05_01_archive.html
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog and am catching up with all of your posts. I couldn't agree more about this and love JEDI. I also have a hard time with the Special Needs label. I can't quite define why.
ReplyDeleteNow where do I sign up to get my T-Shirt???
ReplyDelete