PRESENTING CHERYL JORGENSEN... A Place Where Everyone Belongs: The Story of "Pedro’s Whale"

“More than anything in the world, Pedro loved whales. He loved big whales. He loved grey whales. He loved small whales. He loved blue whales. But most of all, he loved his whale. It made him so happy.” Pedro’s Whale, by Paula Kluth and Patrick Schwarz, is a children’s book about a boy who can be taught, comforted, and motivated when his special interest is brought into curriculum, instruction, and the classroom, in general. And oh by the way, Pedro has autism. In her presentation, Dr. Cheryl Jorgensen will use the theme and text of this book to describe the values and practices that make schools places where everyone belongs and no one is left behind.


Thursday, April 12, 2012
4:00 – 6:00 pm
Courtright Memorial Library, Otterbein University
Westerville, OH

All are invited to this FREE event! For more information or to request an interpreter contact Lois Szudy at LSzudy@otterbein.edu

An Erin McKenzie Virtual Welcoming Space Event
Co-sponsored by
Ohio TASH (Welcoming the Presence and Participation of All Citizens)
and the Friends of the Otterbein University Courtright Memorial Library
Additional thanks to the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio for their support.

What is a "normal" life?

I confess that I never watch Family Guy, never saw the entire episode recently in the news, and do not know how the story of a young woman with Down syndrome going out with a boy who does not have it was set up or even if the words Down syndrome were used in the episode. All that I have seen is the now famous line about the governor of Alaska. From that clip, I must admit I wondered what the problem was around Down syndrome. I kept searching to find more about that. I found this quote from the actress who voiced the character, Andrea Fay Friedman, who does have Down syndrome. "My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life. My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a loaf of French bread the way former Governor Palin carries her son Trig around looking for sympathy and votes." No matter what your political thinking, her perspective is interesting.

I found myself thinking more about Andrea's comment on being raised "to live a normal life." What is a "normal" life? Jonathan Mooney in his book, The Short Bus, A Journey Beyond Normal, explores that. The question is crystallized in Chapter 12, "Katie's Book of Life." View a short documentary at his web site, http://www.jonathanmooney.com/. The last four minutes feature a conversation with Katie and Candee Basford on this topic. Candee talks about how the concept of "normal" gets in the way of valuing what diverse gifts each human being offers and how that can limit a person's opportunity to have an ordinary life.

In a letter sent to thank the Basford family for their participation, Jonathan says, "One of the deepest scars for me from my experience in special education was the feeling that I had to be something other than what I was-that I had to be exceptional to be valued at all. I learned from my day with you how wrong that was-how our lives are intrinsically linked."

When I share my stories of Erin, I try to convey that Erin was not an extra-ordinary person with a disability. What was extra-ordinary was that she had the opportunity to have an ordinary life. More importantly, those people that got to know her had the opportunity to discover what Jonathan realized and wrote to Katie and Candee. "You gave me the gift of seeing how when we are together, we are so much more than when we are alone."

Spinning in Community with Others

Erin’s life inspired the creation of the Welcoming Space in
the Library of Westerville South High School and the Erin
McKenzie Virtual Welcoming Space Web site at Otterbein
College Courtright Memorial Library. Both provide a
diverse mix of media styles and information to encourage
conversations and facilitate our discovery of one another’s
cultures, experiences, and how we are connected; celebrate
the gifts and talents in each of us; and help us to build
inclusive communities where all are valued.

The mural on the wall of the high school library’s space was
inspired in part by an article my friend Candee found about the
Whirling Dervishes of Turkey. The spinning of the dancer is
an intentional act of participation in what is believed to be the
shared similarity and revolution of all other beings.

Student artist Sarah Boatright took that theme and combined it
with the significance of the circle in Native American culture to
create a beautiful painting of a young woman with long,
flowing hair who looks very much like Erin spinning within
a dream catcher. On a wall to the side are the words,
“Mitakuye Oyasin,” which is taken from the Lakota/Dakota
language and can be translated, “We are all related,” or “All
my relations.” It is a belief of oneness and harmony with the
universe.

This connection was also important to Erin. My husband
was involved for many years with the central Ohio Native
American community. When we attended events, Erin was
always genuinely welcomed and invited to dance in the
circle.

Sarah’s artwork has marvelously captured how two very
different cultures celebrate the importance of community.
Erin’s life powerfully demonstrated that too.

May we all spin happily together.

from, REFLECTIONS OF ERIN - THE IMPORTANCE OF BELONGING, RELATIONSHIPS, AND LEARNING WITH EACH OTHER
Copyright 2008, Barbara McKenzie.

Visit Candee Basford's web page

Please consider going to Candee Basford's web page at http://www.candeebasford.com/ . While you are there make sure you check out her blog. As she says on her web page: "Feel free to browse the art, writing and ideas found here...."