Gordon,

I can totally  relate to the openness thing. TOTALLY.  That's why, after
painfully working through what *I* could work through on ME re: Moebius,
that I *KNEW* the same thing could occur in other people with other
disabilities, varying only according to how the disability affected them.
Do you think this is covered ANYWHERE is "special" education? HA!  Sort of,
kind of .... but IF it is done, it's done from an "Outsider's" point of
view, like a scientist examining rats who go through their specially
designed mazes, even though the rats can walk, talk and think!

 The bottom line, for kids who grow up with disabilities, is that it is the
ADULTS who have also grown up with the same disabilities that have more
insight regarding the experience.  I know the parents have the emotional
investment, the love and care and that can't be denied.  But they (unless
they have the disability themselves) cannot understand the thoughts and
feelings which accompany a particular disability.  Sure, there are those
well-meaning adults who research this stuff and write about it, but I wonder
if they catch "it ALL"?  Have you ever read anything by a non-cp person who
truly has caught the essence of your experience in their writing?

I'm NOT saying that no-one else can understand ... but that, in "special"
education few, if any "professionals" really even CONSIDER on a conscious,
planned level, what it FEELS LIKE to have that particular disability.  It's
just not "important" to them because they are focusing on "education".
Well, to Malaine, Andy and Paulina ... the three kids I mentioned, I am
totally convinced their feelings are important to them.  And I bet they
aren't the only three kids with disabilities who have feelings about having
them!

Until people with disabilities start advocating for the kids in schools with
disabilities, any "feelings" those kids have will generally go unrecognized
unless some exceptional parent, kid or teacher speaks up.

THAT is the unfortunate "gauntlet" I hope to avoid.