In his book, Far from the Tree, Andrew Solomon examines a
wide variety families who accept their exceptional children and the effect on
the children of parental and societal acceptance. It's a fascinating book and,
weaved throughout, is Soloman's (2012) belief that the "world is made more
interesting by having every sort of person in it" and that society should
address the needs of all to the "outer limits of our abilities" (p.
43). Soloman, who is dyslexic, explains
that he grew up afraid of illness and disability and through his research came
to find that "splendor can illuminate even the most abject
vulnerabilties" (p. 702). As educators, I believe that UDL practices which embrace differences and focus on student-centered educational
approaches can contribute significantly to this illumination.
Soloman, A. (2012). Far from the tree: Parents, children and the search for identity. New York, NY: Scribner.
Carla,
ReplyDeleteI liked that you included a book in your blogging! Far from the Tree sounds super interesting and I wholeheartedly agree with your statement that UDL should embrace differences and focus on a student centered approach! I wrote this book down on my reading list! Thanks for the info :)
Bridget, Thanks for your thoughts. Far From the Tree includes sections about autism, hearing difficulties, and physical challenges all of which I see at Cabrini's Disability Resource Center. I'm finding it both very interesting and very helpful.
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