FW: Counselor works to prevent bullying

[Guest guest]

Counselor works to prevent bullying

By Tonyaa Weathersbee

The Florida Times-Union

December 20, 2001

As a child, it bothered Hanson when her classmates with

disabilities became either the target of bullies or the brunt of jokes.

Bothered her so much that when she grew up, she not only devoted her

life to helping youth with disabilities but to helping others see their

humanity.

" In elementary school, when (kids without disabilities) would pick on

the kids with disabilities, I hated it, " said Hanson, a counselor who

works with youth and young adults with developmental disabilities at the

Webb Center. " I tried to make them stop. "

Today, Hanson, 33, is trying to see to it that they never start.

Recently, she spearheaded a seminar at the Webb Center that not only

included youths with developmental disabilities such as autism and

cerebral palsy but their peers ages 9 to 18 without disabilities. The

seminar attempted to help the youth, as well as parents and caretakers,

appreciate each other as people with unique strengths and spirit.

" Sometimes, it's kind of a shock to see someone who is different, so a

lot of what happens is more or less because of a lack of understanding, "

Hanson said. " A lot of kids aren't used to being around kids with

disabilities. "

Being a purveyor of empathy is part of Hanson's family trade.

Both her parents were social workers in Duluth, Minn., where Hanson grew

up. Not only that, her mother also found time to work with charities

there, she said.

After working as an in-home family therapist and crisis intervention

counselor in Wisconsin, Hanson decided it was time to shake off the snow

and soak in some sun. She moved to ville, Fla., in 1996.

For a time, Hanson worked with youth with brain injuries at

Rehabilitation Center before moving on to the Webb Center. The jobs were

a fresh challenge, she said.

But Hanson's empathetic touch prevailed. " There was this one young

fellow who had cerebral palsy, and he was in a wheelchair, " Hanson said.

" I was thinking about how I was going to get through to him, since I was

limited verbally.

" Then he gave me this big smile, as if he knew what was going on in my

mind ... he picked up on a lot. You could tell a joke, and he would

start laughing before the person who you were telling it to could laugh.

He taught me a lot. "

Namely, it reinforced what Hanson learned as a child, and now tries to

teach to others. That youths with disabilities deserve to be treated as

people. To be able to laugh at jokes.

Not be the brunt of them.

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