CHARGE Re: One of 's stories.....

March 4, 2007

I am so embarassed. My son just informed me that his friends name

wasn't Joe but is Dennis P... I have to admit my memory isn't so good

since my heart surgery. Duh me. That heart lung machine can really

mess with your memory.

Anyway, says he hasn't seen Dennis since he graduated but next

time he attends an alumni get together he is going to ask if anyone

knows where Dennis is now.

mom to (31)

>

> ,

> You know, I'd have to ask ... is involved in alumni and

> attends all the get togethers but it's with everyone from his house

> who go as a group to the activities. I deffinitly will ask if

> Joe attends any of the get togethers. I hope so.

>

> I remember when graduated from SSSD that the class planned a

> dinner for parents and family one evening before graduation. It was

> so sad at the number of kids who didn't have family there. This was

> not a big class and their were to many that didn't have family

> attend. It was so sad. Each of the kids got up and talked about

what

> the school and family meant to them. Wasn't a dry eye in the place.

>

> Over the years that attended the school we would make the

trip

> to his dorm for special occisions such as birthdays and activities.

> Henry and I got to know all the kids from his dorm. When we come to

> Ca. I will bring some of the pictures we took over the years of

> and his friends.

>

> got allot of awards when he graduated but the one that meant

> the most was the one where classmates, teacheres, and dorm

counselers

> voted on for the one who always had the best attitude in day to day

> living. They all voted for . It was a hands down decision. The

> plaque is to this day hanging in his room.

>

> mom to (31)

>

March 4, 2007

What a wonderful wonderful story - we all hope for acceptance and for our

children to experience that kind of acceptance. What a sweetheart Joe

turned out to be!

>

> Hi guys,

>

> Reading about the Little League posting made me think of something

> that happened with when he was attending Scranton School for the

> Deaf.

>

> always strove to be part of things he saw the other kids doing.

> When he first started at SSSD school he wasn't accepted 100%. Their

> were deaf kids from all over the state attending the school.

> seemed so fragle compared to some of his peers. He wanted to fit in so

> badly. had his little quirks that some of the other kids just

> didn't understand. He was always an early riser, like 6 in the morning

> riser. Many a time he got the brunt of someones anger because he would

> just barge into their rooms to talk with them or wanting to show them

> something he made with legos. When the other kids would tear into him

> verablly (as in some very bad sign words) would expect them to be

> put on detention for being rude. didn't understand that not

> everyone liked being awakened at 6 am.

>

> It stood to reason that in picking a roommate for that they

> tried to pair him with someone similar to . had a rather

> meek guy much like himself. Well one night his roommate because very

> sick and they wanted to move people around so wouldn't get sick

> also. Well the biggest bad a-- boy on his dorm floor volunteer to room

> with on a temporary basis. Mind you I was not privy to this while

> it was happening. I would have probably stopped it. This very large

> young man was from the Philadephia area and had been in alot of trouble

> before coming to SSSD. I would have believed that his volunteering was

> a disguise to get my boy alone to make his life misrable. I was so

> very wrong......This big hunking guy was hiding a heart of gold. After

> the illness was over he and decided they wanted to remain

> roommates. He took under his wing. No one dared to pick on

> after this friendship was formed.

>

> at this time was going to a hearing Vo-Tech school for

> carpentry class. He was going for 1/2 day everyday. Because of timing

> was getting his lunch at the Vo-Tech. Their were some jocks in

> the cafeteria that were teasing and making fun of . Never got

> physical but upsetting very much. was taking his fustration

> back to Joe, his roommate. Joe began showing some boxing,

> punching moves. No one else( myself or dorm counslers) knew this was

> happening. Joe encouraged to stand up to the bullies thinging

> that they would back down when push came to shove. So one day at lunch

> one of the kids starteed in on . stood up motioning with his

> hands as if saying come on, come on.....The jock was so flabber gasted

> that he didn't know what to do....He didn't want to get in a fight with

> how would that look??????? From that time on they left

> alone. I know that this could have possible ended very badly. If I or

> dorm counslers had known it was going on we would have interviened but

> I have to wonder if our interviening would have stopped the teasing

> like Joe's help did. Thank God it didn't get physical... But what Joe

> gave was something precious. Acceptance. I have to tell you that

> Joe ended up at SSSD as the alternate to ending up in juvenile court.

> This tough deaf kid from the city was 's guardian angel through

> high school. He did a turn around for himself and graduated as a loved

> member of 's class. I will always think of him with fondness.

>

> mom to (31)

>

--

" It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in

delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. " --Carl Sagan

March 4, 2007

, after I posted my other response to this message, it made me think

of something similar that happened with Kennedy (I may have posted about it

here a while back but I don't think you were here). I have worked in a

variety of schools because of my job. One school in particular was ROUGH

and I mean ROUGH - I broke up many a fight during recesses and lunch breaks;

it was a nightmare. When Kennedy began bowling in a bantam league for the

first time this year, she went up to her assigned lane and here was one of

the big bad boys from that school where I had worked. I'm pretty sure I

hauled him off of other kids at least half a dozen times. Here he stood,

arms folded, looking cocky with his big earring and I thought " oh dear, I

might have to switch Kennedy to another team " - I was truly frightened for

her. Well, you know what? He was and still is her BIGGEST supporter - he

LOVES Kennedy. He cheers whether she gets 9 down or 1 down. He goes

halfway down the lane and opens his legs over the middle line and tells

Kennedy to aim under " the bridge " and she loves it! He has been just great

for her. He wanted me to show him how to sign " one more " and " two more " so

he can tell her how many balls she has left to throw. It's really sweet;

I'm so glad she's on his team.