To Tommy Choy, a Special Education undergrad, special education is about finding the right key to unlock a treasure chest.
“Albert Einstein was a genius, but he was born with ADHD. Jay Chou is a great singer and musician, but he failed in mainstream education.
"What this tells us is that underneath, everyone is special in their own way. Success isn't confined to a set of social norms.” Tommy said
“I visited a special school last year. I was amazed by the change that special education teachers made to their students’ lives.”
"The way the students are treated reminds me of old pianos; they are ignored by most because they are out of tune. But the special education teachers managed to give them a second life by tuning them skillfully. What’s special about special education? It is dedication.”
“The exchange to University of Canberra in Australia reshaped my views on education. I realized that teachers in Australia give autonomy to students to learn in their own ways. They attach great importance to sensory play. They care about children’s self-management skills more than the number of words they learn.”
“I think the ability to find new ways to explain and demonstrate subject matter to your audience is the key. So, we chose to present our classwork in a special way. Through a drama, my groupmates played the roles of students with ADHD. What’s special about special education? It is empathy.”
As Tommy’s journey illustrates, we strive to encourage students in everything that they do – from their self-exploration to their practicum. By giving our students the skills and support they need to succeed we seek to raise their lives to the NEXT LEVEL.
