of a girl in a wheelchair with a severe speech disorder. She is a bright and intelligent student seeking the same thing that every child seeks - someone to share a story, to play with, to talk to, just someone to be her friend. Her obstacles are not her wheelchair or her speech disorder, she has accepted that as part of her life.Her sword of Damocles is from the constant bullying in school. Often reduced to tears from name calling, mockery, and frustration when the school calls her mother to pick her up from school because she is an emotional mess after every bullying episode. Is she being punished for not being able to take the abuse?!
Imagine being trapped in a wheelchair, defenseless and unable to escape, unable to call for help, ignored so you get no help, then cast aside so no one will see your pain. How does she find the strength and the courage to go to school?
I was also told that it wasn’t until a concerned group of students reported and pointed out the bullies to school officials that the handicapped girl got a break from bullies. Those students don’t consider themselves heroes – they were just doing the right thing. Why isn’t everyone doing the right thing?
We understand...
that she understands about bullies and their need for revenge. She has special needs – but she is not stupid. Living with the constant fear of retaliation at any moment has is an incredible emotional drain on anyone. Add the burden and frustration of not being able to talk to anyone that can help. How does a child deal with daily obstacles of her disabilities and have to survive the physical & emotional attacks by bullies? How does a mother protect her defenseless child from of bullying? How is it possible to watch this happen in your school?
I have not met the student, the mother, the group of students or anyone involved in the intersecting lives of these people, but I was touched - into taking action.
