I can remember vaguely what the ocean air felt like. Thick with moisture and cool breezes with an occasional warm sun ray bursting through the clouds touching my face as I looked out upon the Isles. This memory has now been slowly replaced by the sound of motorists rushing to and fro, the feeling of cold dry air parching my throat, and the feeling of rushing from place to place. I have been back in the city for one week now.
I spent the last month out on the West Coast of Scotland working at an Outdoor Centre as aforementioned. During my time next to the ocean, I had the opportunity and good luck to be able to work with disabled and special needs children. Ranging from wheelchair bound to down syndrome, the time I spent working with them was the most rewarding time thus far whilst being in the field of outdoor education. Now, if you think disabilities would limit kids from being a part of adventures or outdoor activities, you should think again. Despite the weather (rain, rain, and guess what? more rain!) they fully embraced each jump into the ocean, dive into the freezing gorge water, and climbing up the wet rocks of the ocean crags. I was moved by these girls and boys, in a way that makes you think, this is what I was meant to do.
There are so many moments I will never forget about being with these lovely children. One moment specifically was when I was with the last group that I worked with at my centre. One of the girls with down syndrome had continuously amazed me all week. From shamelessly and purposely dropping herself into mud puddles from head to toe, to keeping all the other children in check with her commands, “Shannon, put your wellies on, Gosh!” Her signature move was the T-shape backwards back flop which she continuously carried out on land and in water. On the last day we took them rock climbing out on the ocean crags and after we had secured our anchors and tied their figure of eight knots, it was her turn to climb. (The teachers had mentioned that they did not think climbing would be successful, that these girls would prefer to beach comb). She got up to the rope, clipped in, and off she went…literally. She climbed faster than any other child I had seen in all 5 of my weeks. As she climbed I smiled immensely and definitely felt incredibly proud of her. But, just as I thought the water works would not come, all of the other children started clapping for her and cheering her name (without any suggestion by anyone else but themselves). They cheered her on and I almost lost it, simply because you don’t see that kind of teamwork and support from all children. It was beautiful, and I will never forget it.
These experiences made me think of how society and schools in general put parameters on what people are capable of by the way they look, where they are from, if they have a disability or even if they are a boy or a girl. These “roles” seem to be constantly challenged by experiences I have witnessed in the outdoors and in almost every case has made me think, no one really knows what anyone is truly capable of until they are faced with a challenge. In the case of the children with disabilities, it seems they have been facing challenges their whole lives and maybe this makes them more resilient to situations where they can let go of any rules they have at home, or any preconceived assumption of what they can accomplish. These ideas have been flooding my head lately and may be the topic of my Dissertation, which I am now beginning.
The month I spent by the ocean and the Isles was one I will never forget because of the children, their love, their support and their constant excitement for all of the activities and challenges in the outdoors. This time allowed me to also do my own exploration through the Inner Hebrides of Mull, Iona, Tiree and Kerrera. These islands moved me in a way that I cannot explain and the calmness I experienced is one I try to carry with me even in this city.
“Light, blue, green.
The water does sing,
Of tales and myths,
New and old,
As sheep graze in the dusky cold.
A land of mystery,
Of deep seated history,
Pools of tides,
Team along beachsides,
As shells toss and turn,
I too will learn.
Of this wild land,
Lined with white sand.
On the Isle of Tiree,
Nobody around but me.”
Spring is beginning here in Edinburgh and although loud, it is truly beautiful. Sunsets are always incredible, but doubly so when with people that I care about. There are a lot of changes happening in the lives of those I love here and I am so excited for what the future will bring for everyone! The next few months will be full of travels from a cross country ski course in Norway, Sea Kayaking, Mountaineering, Ecology studies on the Isle of Rum, to my lovely family visiting in April, I am a very lucky girl. (FYI: I am also writing papers and prepping my Disseration, We do work in this program I swear!)
Happy Springtime everyone, may it bring you Peace, Love and Happiness always. x
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I loved your story. How deeply moved I am. My daughter was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was two years old. While, she is quite functional in many aspects of her life, she suffers mostly in her ability to communicate with others (which causes frustration), she is mentally around 9 or 10 years of age, and displays signs of autism and/or asperger’s. She will be 24 on her birthday next month. I know first hand the difficulties these children have as I have watched my own daughter suffer through the years. It breaks my heart because my daughter is a sweet girl who given the opportunity is smart and funny and special in her own right. I commend you for caring enough to make special needs children feel like they are like, or even better, than everyone else. These children have minds and feelings, which are often more sensitive than our own. They are neither freaks, weird, nor contagious. The only thing contagious is the laughter they experience when allowed to be treated like everyone else and have fun participating in activities you have described. Many children without disabilities would balk at the opportunity to participate in some of the activities these special children did and can do. I commend you for your work and best of luck to you on your journey through grad school. Thank you for sharing your story.