Retarded Isnt Stupid, Mom

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Retarded Isnt Stupid, Mom! By Sandra Z.
Kaufman
A Working with Families Presentation EDUC/SPED
210 by Megan Enger
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(No Transcript)
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Background Information

• The Kaufman Family
• Matt- father
• Sandra- mother
• Nicole- first born child- mentally retarded, has
  brain damage, minimal cerebral palsy, motor
  defects, and distorted visual perception
• David- brother
• Jill- sister
• Two parent authoritative family that is
• fairly well off and has support from
• the extended family
• near Los Angeles, California in 1957

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Characteristics of Mental Retardation

• Children with mental retardation may
• sit up, crawl, or walk later than other children
  
• learn to talk later, or have trouble speaking,
• find it hard to remember things,
• not understand how to pay for things,
• have trouble understanding social rules,
• have trouble seeing the consequences of their
  actions,
• have trouble solving problems, and/or
• have trouble thinking logically.
• About 87 of people with mental retardation will
  
• only be a little slower than average in learning
• new information and skills.

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Significant Events

• Nicoles diagnoses at age 2
• Matt goes to school, Sandra stays home (and vice
  versa )
• Nicole
• goes to public school
• realizes she is different
• receives SSI
• graduates at age 21
• moves out and in with boyfriend, Edward
• gets and loses various jobs
• is found to be infertile
• experiences difficulties (debts, SSI, injuries,
  theft)
• gets her drivers license (moped, car)
• marries and eventually divorces Edward

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Parent Involvement

• Nicoles diagnosis-- mom in denial
• Switches doctors and does research to become
  informed
• Accepts disability and child
• No possibility for daycare-
• Matt and Sandra trade off
• going to college
• Must remain responsible throughout
• Nicoles entire life

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Resources and Supports

• Grandmother
• Dr. Bernstein
• Gordon- regional center counselor
• Go-Getters support group
• Supplemental
• Security Income
• - Belle (Nicoles boss)
• - Nicoles friends

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School Experience

• Teachers usually
• misunderstood
• werent supportive of the family
• didnt give Nicole personal attention
• made Sandra feel like a bad parent
• One caring teacher was actually hopeful and
  suggested normalization and independence

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My Classroom

• When I have my own classroom, I hope to be more
  supportive of families and disabled students. I
  plan to respect them and connect them with
  resources, information, and a support system.
• Retarded isnt stupid I will not set limits
  simply based on any disability.

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Community Experience

• Nicole had a few saints
• Gordon
• Belle
• Charlotte
• Community in general wasnt accepting of Nicole
• Neighbors
• Kids at school
• Co-workers
• School bus drivers

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Negative Family Experiences

• Frustrating
• Exhausting
• Not enough time for other kids
• Not enough time for self
• Expensive
• Constant burden
• Cause of worry

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Positive Family Experiences

• Tolerance- siblings
• Acceptance- parents
• Patience
• Thankful for blessings
• Pride
• Optimism
• Hope
• Set high expectations
• Learn to let go

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Circle of Courage
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Belonging

• Siblings
• Chowder Bowl

• Edward
• Friends

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Generosity

• Parents- Matt and Sandra
• All of Nicoles saints
• Caring teacher
• Nicoles helpfulness

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Independence

• Nicoles entire life was a process
• of gaining independence.

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Mastery

• Nicoles successes
• driving
• household chores
• Chowder Bowl
• school
• marriage
• normalization process

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Sources

• Retarded Isnt Stupid, Mom! By Sandra Z. Kaufman
• http//kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dnKidsHealt
  hlic1ps 307cat_id20073article_set22892
• http//www.ssa.gov/disability/
• http//www.nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs8txt.htm
• http//www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/ddmr.htm
• http//www.ericfacility.net/ericdigests/ed372593.h
  tml
• http//www.aamr.org/Policies/faq_mental_retardatio
  n.shtml
• "Mental Retardation." Britannica Student
  Encyclopedia. 2004. 
• Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 4 May 2004.
• lthttp//www.search.eb.com/ebi/article?eu297798gt.