My take-away from Bruce Kiesling's lecture: The History of Disability

Dr. Kiesling's presentation today was very eye opening. I always find myself very intrigued on this specific topic mainly because I really enjoy working with kids with disabilities. I myself was not educated on this topic at all until the beginning of my junior year in college. I had just transferred to UT Knoxville and switched majors from Kinesiology to Therapeutic Recreation (which entails working with people with intellectual disabilities). I honestly had no idea what I was getting into by switching into that major, but to this day it has been the best decision I've ever made. I learned a lot about myself through my junior and senior years of college and I'm thankful for the opportunities that the University of Tennessee gave me to be able to attend camps and work with children and adults with various intellectual disabilities.

The history of developmental disabilities going all the way back to the 20th century is really hard for me to think about because honestly it makes me very sad. I understand that reviewing the history of these things and knowing the culture back then is beneficial, and it's important not to repeat the bad parts of history. I just have a hard time thinking about people being so mistreated in institutions like the Eastern PA State Institute. It also breaks my heart to think about the "forgotten generations" from Minnesota that died while living in institutions. I guess for me its difficult to think about how people could be so cruel towards others-but then again, people were not educated well enough and did not know how to treat those with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Moreover, I am glad that we have taken the steps over the years to come so far and be where we are today.

Before I came here for OT school, my job back in Nashville was being a nanny for a 15 year old boy named Turner who had autism and epilepsy. I did not realize how much this would change my life for the better. I was so nervous that I wasn't going to do a good job, or that maybe he wouldn't like me as much as his last nanny. I couldn't have been more wrong! Like most people, it takes some time to warm up and get to know a new person. Turner obviously had to warm up to me since I was a new nanny to him, but over time it became so easy working with him. He is an amazing kid who is so smart and SO funny. I was with Turner throughout the week after he got out of school and sometimes on weekends. I was able to take him to his OT sessions, swim lessons, equine therapy, and gymnastics. I was able to help him with his daily tasks like getting dressed, brushing his teeth, showering, using the restroom, and more. It was awesome to see how well he progressed in just the one year that I was his nanny. I honestly miss him so much and can't wait to see what he does later in his adult years. I hope to keep up with him and his family while I am here at school, and hope to see him when I go back home to visit Nashville. He truly is just the best, and this is how my love for working with people with disabilities continued to grow over the past year being at home.

I am grateful for people like Dr. Kiesling who are so educated on this topic and strive to help other people understand better. If it weren't for my random major switch in college, I maybe to this day would not know much about people with disabilities and would still be in the dark on all of this. I hope to continue to learn more while in school, and help inform others on how person's with developmental disabilities should be treated. Hopefully I can make a difference as on OT for those with disabilities one day.