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Two blog posts in a row. WHAT WHAT?! 🙂 I’m determined to see this 30 Days of Thanks through to completion and maybe, just maybe, I’ll get on a good roll with blogging.

Today, I am thankful for exceptional children. No, I’m not talking about my own two today, although they are quite exceptional in their own ways per their biased parents. Today’s post is about some awesome kids I know who face challenges every day and who know greater difficulties than most of us. They are heroes, champions and inspirations to us all. You may know them as “special needs” kids, but I know them as exceptional.

God has given me a heart for kids with special needs. I can’t take any credit at all for having a heart for them – it’s all about what He has laid on me for these amazing children. You  see, I didn’t grow up around many kids with special needs. Back then, those kids were in different classrooms and we really never saw them throughout the school year much at all. How incredible is it that we have inclusive classrooms now? I think it’s simply awesome! Our girls attend an elementary school that promotes inclusion and I can’t rave enough about how wonderful that is. My children are aware that other kids have different challenges, but they don’t see the kids themselves as different – they are “just” kids. It makes me so proud to see that students in the halls don’t even think twice when they see another student using a walker or a wheelchair. They are all classmates and friends. It’s really incredible!

As a substitute teacher, I get a chance to work with kids of all needs throughout the school. I might as well be honest and admit that working in the special needs classrooms is a favorite of mine. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy “gen ed” too, but those kids in the special needs classrooms have really captured my heart. I obviously won’t name any names here on this public blog, but I will just say that the kids I see and get to work with regularly bless me beyond belief. From their big smiles, to the awesome grins and laughs and on to their determination and courage – they are all inspirational. If you were ever having a down day, I guarantee that I know several kids that could put a smile on the saddest of faces. They don’t even have to be verbal to bring joy to your heart – they do that just by being themselves. I feel so blessed and honored to have even a small role in working with these amazing kids.

Our friend Tim is a teacher at the girls’ school. Mickey and I are blessed to be friends with Tim, his wife Briahnna and their family. They are some really cool people!!  Tim teaches the SID/PID (severe/profound disabilities) class and has some of the most incredible students you could ever hope to meet. Tim is a champion and advocate for inclusion. He has a great blog that you should all check out too – it’s Think Inclusive. When I get to work in that classroom, Tim and his parapros all inspire me with the way they work with these kids. That classroom environment is full of grace, acceptance and encouragement.

So, here is my encouragement for today – work for inclusion. If you have a child with special needs, be an advocate for your child to receive inclusive education. If your child is in a general education classroom, be an advocate for inclusion in the classroom. Inclusion benefits everyone. God gave us all our own abilities and we live in this big old crazy world together. Let’s start from an early age in teaching that inclusion is belonging. Our friends with exceptional abilities make our world a better place. I can’t help but be thankful that I know and get inspired by some of the most exceptional kids on the planet.

Be blessed, y’all…
Kelly