Basically my school. We have a special needs program and they tend to integrate them with the regular program for maybe a week or two per semester for stuff like specific sports we'd be playing in gym class. Whenever they do that, the kids in the regular program go out of their way to choose the special needs kids for their teams, and cheer extra loud when they score/hide their disappointment when they get scored on etc.
One of the cheerleaders at my son's junior high has down syndrome. Now that he's told us about her, he often talks about the cute blonde cheer leader. He doesn't even mention she has Downs any more. He just talks about how awesome she is.
I also teach Functional Living Skills and the kids at the school (fairly tough neighborhood) are so sweet to my students. They high five them in the halls, ask them to sit with them at lunch, etc.
Humanity is basically fine. It's just the jerks that get all the attention from the media...not the real people.
When I was in middle school there was this eighth grader who was special needs, I think it was stage one autism, but if anyone would fall in gym class he would come over, help them up, dust off their back, and ask them they were okay in sign language (he was deaf). Whenever someone had the ball, they would give it to him. All the tough eighth graders would always throw the ball for him : "Get it, Ed! You got this! Awesome job!" It was so sweet. It warms my heart to this day.
One of the special needs kids at my school garduated . . . last year I think? Anyway, I wasn't there but my sister was because she played in the band, and apparently when he crossed the stage and got his diploma, the entire crowd gave him a standing ovation.
That is amazing. This year at one of the high schools, the football players told everyone not to vote for them and gave Homecoming King to a student with Down Syndrome.
I also teach Functional Living Skills and the kids at the school (fairly tough neighborhood) are so sweet to my students. They high five them in the halls, ask them to sit with them at lunch, etc.
Humanity is basically fine. It's just the jerks that get all the attention from the media...not the real people.