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The Class Photo that Broke a Mother’s Heart
yahoo.com ^ | June 17, 2013

Posted on 06/17/2013 5:42:11 PM PDT by grundle

What is wrong with this picture?

It's one of those things that you don't get, until you get it. Unless you are eternally empathetic, you look at this photo and don't see much wrong at all.

To Anne Belanger, mother of Miles, the photo is unbearable to look at.

When the class portrait for her son's Grade 2 class came home, she opened it excitedly, and immediately shoved it back in the envelope. She couldn't look at it. It broke her heart.

Anne's son, Miles, has Spinal Muscular Atrophy. At the age of 13 months, his parents were told that Miles would never walk, he has spent his life in a wheelchair.

Miles knows he's different than the rest of the kids, but he still tries to fit in. So there he is, on the far side of the image, neck craning as far as he can to stretch into the frame with the rest of his friends. He's beaming. It's school picture day and he's thrilled.

But the photo still broke Anne's heart. The photo was a clear example of how set apart her son is from society. Instead of a big group hug photo with Miles at the center, and classmates and teachers all around, a fully inclusive image, he was stuffed off to the side, some 3 feet away. An after thought, it seems.

(Excerpt) Read more at shine.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: chat; classphoto; disabled; schoolphoto; specialneeds; wheelchair
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To: freedomson
these kind of superficial slights

There was no slight. Just a bad picture.

61 posted on 06/17/2013 6:07:26 PM PDT by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: usconservative

It’s not being “intentional” is the very problem.


62 posted on 06/17/2013 6:07:27 PM PDT by kabumpo (Kabumpo)
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To: Viennacon

He’s right up against the edge of the bleachers, but the kids are scrunched in the middle. So he looks like he’s all alone, separate from everyone else.


63 posted on 06/17/2013 6:07:32 PM PDT by tbw2
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To: usconservative

It’s not being “intentional” is the very problem.


64 posted on 06/17/2013 6:07:35 PM PDT by kabumpo (Kabumpo)
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To: Viennacon

The wheelchair couldn’t be closer, but the kids could.


65 posted on 06/17/2013 6:08:41 PM PDT by kanawa (FB...Save George Zimmerman from racial onslaught)
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To: grundle

There is nothing wrong with the picture, the kid is smiling. Parents and critics shut the hell up. He’s happy, look at that look on his face. You guys are the problem.


66 posted on 06/17/2013 6:09:22 PM PDT by 23 Everest (When seconds count. The police are just 23 minutes away. 831 Bonnie)
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To: cripplecreek

Yeah. There’s no reason the kid couldn’t have been in the front with the other kids gapped around him.


67 posted on 06/17/2013 6:09:42 PM PDT by Black Agnes
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To: kabumpo

Yea I would bet that this photographer just doesn’t like kids all that much.


68 posted on 06/17/2013 6:09:47 PM PDT by Wanderer99
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To: 23 Everest
Maybe you need to relax.

Yeah, I might start calling people drama queens for discussing a way to take a better photo. LOL
69 posted on 06/17/2013 6:10:25 PM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: grundle
Just clicked on post and have not read any comments. I say the child should have been in the middle of the photo surrounded by his classmates.

Now, I will see what other Freepers have said.

70 posted on 06/17/2013 6:11:15 PM PDT by Bronzy
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To: grundle
I guess mom missed the big ol' smile on his face.

I would have done it differently but the smile on his face says more.

71 posted on 06/17/2013 6:11:39 PM PDT by raybbr (People who still support Obama are either a Marxist or a moron. No, they are both.)
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To: kabumpo
It’s not being “intentional” is the very problem.

Like your unintentionally posting this same message 7 times?

72 posted on 06/17/2013 6:12:04 PM PDT by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: EQAndyBuzz

Everyone could have skooched a bit to the left filling the gap.

And it would have looked like a normal class picture.

But nooooooo....

Agreed One Hundred Percent.There was NO reason to have done this to this child.


73 posted on 06/17/2013 6:12:34 PM PDT by puppypusher (The World is going to the dogs.)
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To: verga

Yes, just clicked to read and said the same.


74 posted on 06/17/2013 6:13:08 PM PDT by Bronzy
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To: grundle

I would have asked the teacher to stand on the portrait right, next to the kid on the wheelchair.

That would have bridged the gap caused by not be able to get the motorized wheelchair closer, and the teacher would have been the bridge from the child to the rest of the class.


75 posted on 06/17/2013 6:14:37 PM PDT by exit82 ("The Taliban is on the inside of the building" E. Nordstrom 10-10-12)
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To: grundle

The photographer could have spread the kids on the bleachers out a tad more, or maybe have the little guy in front of the teacher. But other than that, since the wheelchair could not be any closer than it was, it just looks like an oversight, something you see after the picture is taken.

Much ado about nothing. If she lawyers up, the school will probably have to settle out of court.


76 posted on 06/17/2013 6:15:21 PM PDT by laweeks
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To: cripplecreek

BTTT!


77 posted on 06/17/2013 6:15:31 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: exit82

I would have asked the teacher to stand on the portrait right, next to the kid on the wheelchair.

That would have bridged the gap caused by not be able to get the motorized wheelchair closer, and the teacher would have been the bridge from the child to the rest of the class.


I agree.

But that would take a thoughtful, caring teacher. Do those exist these days?


78 posted on 06/17/2013 6:16:30 PM PDT by KittenClaws ( You may have to fight a battle more than once in order to win it." - Margaret Thatcher)
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To: Black Agnes

My cousin’s daughter has MD so its something we’re used to dealing with in family photos. She’s small for 13 and too big to sit with the little kids in front so she usually ends up sitting in the second row with the little old ladies.


79 posted on 06/17/2013 6:17:10 PM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: 9YearLurker

Probably because he doesn’t expect anything better.


80 posted on 06/17/2013 6:18:08 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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