Docent for a Day

F really, really wanted to volunteer as a docent at our local zoo.  The unfortunate thing is they require so much that he cannot do and are unwilling to really work with him.  So his educational team, who I cannot sing enough praises about, came up with an alternate solution.  His supervising teacher had her special ed class scheduled for a field trip to the zoo.  F could volunteer to be their docent for the day.  So he and his two paraeducators got to work planning the animals he wanted to provide facts for.

Then his AT/AAC team came and prepared the Dynavox for the trip. They added the facts he wanted for each of his chosen animals.  They had great comments for him to use.  It was really created to use the least amount of energy and pack the most informative docent punch possible.  Then it was up to F to learn the pages, practice, and prepare himself. He had about two weeks to do this after the pages were created. 

The day finally came for the trip to the zoo.  F did amazing.  He communicated appropriately with his switches the entire session.  Was a great role model and was well liked by his teacher's students. He appropriately said he was finished when the visit was complete.  He managed all of his respiratory needs well and had few seizures.  This was a huge success for him and quite an ego boost.  He was so proud and so was his team.  We all believe in F and know that he has the drive and will to succeed with his limitations and it takes the right motivation.

I never thought I'd ever see this day that F would have the tools he needed to be a role model for others.  It was always a dream but in his early years he lacked the support of his school district and teaching staff.  Today he's in charge of his education and it's all about being as independent as possible.