Kim Peeks

What?

I had the great opportunity last Monday to hear Kim Peeks speak. It was amazing to hear his father tell the story of his life. Kim Peeks father spoke of how Kim was not diagnose with autism until the 1980's. Before his diagnosis doctors new he was not normal as some would say, but doctors advised Kim's father and mother to put Kim in an institution. Putting individuals with mental or physical imparities in an institution was very accepted when Kim was born. They put individuals in such places was some people's way of dealing with individuals whom they considered would not fit into society. Kim's father told a story about making a movement to get individuals out of institutions and into group homes or private residence. He said during that time they took out two thousand individuals out of institutions and placed them into a home environment. As I listened to Kim speak he had such a great message to tell everyone about how to cure the world of violence and intolerance. Kim said we are all different and no one person is the very same, and if we recognize we are all different then it would eradicate intolerance for others making this world a better place to live. I was amazed at Kim's memory he could recall ninety eight percent of what he had read in his life time. Someone asked Kim what did it say in a biography of one of the church's leaders on page two hundred paragraph three, and he paraphrased what the book said in that particular spot. He also was able to tell people their zip code and the major highways that lead into his or her specific town. Kim also had a great sense of humor and seemed to like to make jokes. Kim's father spoke of how the music professor from the University of Utah has been teaching Kim classical music. Kim had eighty five percent of the all classical music memorized and can play that music by memory on the piano. I am very great full to have had the opportunity to have listened to Kim tell his story. Kim had an amazing message to tell the audience and he was an impressive speaker to listen to.

So What!

While I listen to Kim and his father speak on Monday I was not thinking this man had a disability. I was thinking how he has helped changed societies views on people with autism and those who doctors say are mentally disabled. As I watched Kim and his father speak I did not see a man who was disabled I saw a man who had a great ability with his memory. This was a great opportunity to be able to see Kim's father interact with him and how I could as a future teacher be able to handle a student who had autism. His father never was anger with Kim for speaking while he was speaking. I think this would be very difficult to do as a teacher, but if the students knew that student was not intentionally trying to be disturbing I think the student would be fine in a classroom. Kim had the ability to memorize a great deal of information and I think it would be difficult to keep a child or student challenged in the classroom. Although it wasn't until just recently that Kim was introduced to the piano and classical music, which gave him a challenge and variety. Teachers need to be creative and give variety to student to help them engage in the curriculum, such as the professor from the University of Utah did for Kim.

Now What?

As I listened to Kim speak I accepted him for who he was and what he had to offer the world, yet I still need to know how to help students who are not fully developed be able to accept those who are different than them. I still need to know how to help students with disabilities where I can help them learn to their full capacity. I still need to learn more specifically how to help those with autism, down syndrome, or ADD. I need to read books about specific disabilities as students enter my future classroom so I can help them succeed in my classroom.