[hushpad]

I think the ability to learn from everyone needs to transend to us pig headed adults.

Amen to that!

I remember once in the 6th grade (Looong time ago), a boy confined to a wheel chair was transferred into my class.

First off, the teacher introduced him, we all talked about the wheelchair and asked him questions. This boys parents must have been marvelous! The boy (I think his name was Steven), was witty, self-assured, and within minutes, we were all made comfortable about him and his disability.

Most children fear those who are different, but if it's explained in a manner similar to my experience, most difficulties could be overcome.

[New Perspective]

Excellent post. Kids can be very enlightening.My friend is a Dr and has been a paraplegic since a car accident at age 22. My nephew was 8 and wanted to show this little girl my friend Steve, in the wheel chair when he stopped in. My nephew proceeds to tell the girl, as if Steve was not even there, that you could throw as much snow on his legs as you want, and he would never get cold. And that a whole house could fall on his legs and he wouldn't feel it. The best one was when my nephew told Steve that he was lucky because he got to still all the time.

Thank God I met Steve a few years ago because he has taught my family and I valuable knowledge about being handicap. I think God was priming us for our son. Steve has an excellent sense of humor and nothing stops him. He needs a little help now and then, like getting on his jetski, or being loaded into our yearly Aircombat planes that we fly. He is a real inspiration. For Christmas this year, I gave him a coupon for free River Dance lessons. He was laughing so hard he almost fell out of his chair.