The paradigm needs shifting.
I’m spent tonight. I’m in bed but unable to go to bed because my mind is wired and my body is tired.
Earlier we felt blindsided at our son with Down syndrome’s “Meet the Teacher” night. I won’t get into the details, but my husband and I are left wondering if this is all a big mistake or do we have an emergency IEP meeting on the horizon.
After the meeting, we went to see The Peanut Butter Falcon. As a parent of a child with a developmental disability, I loved it. And it also exhausted me. Because the message was right on point- the paradigm needs shifting.
Yes, we have mostly moved beyond outwardly treating those with cognitive disabilities poorly. We can easily recognize the bigotry of someone who uses the “r” word, especially when directed at someone with a disability. But we, the world, still treat people like my son as a less than person.
It might not be in an obvious way, but with the slow and steady oppression of low expectations. Expectations that say- you can’t, so I will do it for you. You can’t, so you go to this special class. You can’t, so you can go to this special workplace.
I cried at the end of the movie. It was a simple scene, a scene that portrayed what the main character was looking for along- belonging.
And it brought tears to my eyes because this is all I want for my child. And we have come so far and yet have so far to go.
The world may not outwardly be cruel to people like my son, but it is still exclusionary. The line in the sand is still drawn. It’s still us and them. Difference is still segregated instead of celebrated.
The paradigm needs shifting.
I thank the makers of this movie for giving it a push.
