The title for this post does not come from an "us or them" mindset. The title for this post is inspired by a program that is being sponsored by a local hospital called "Bikes for the Rest of Us". I'm at the point where I'm going to have to declare a major - special ed or something else - you can tell where my heart is...

Every day as school, I see a different kind of technology - it's a life thing.

For most of us, going to school (even if it's homeschool), eating,
breathing, moving are a normal part of life. For the rest of us, things aren't that easy.

Because of technology, the rest of us can go to school every day.

We have about thirty school buses that come to our school every day. Most of them have lifts like this one.

Some of the students come to school in "ambu-cabs" - but most of them come to school on buses.

Because of technology, kids can go places - a lot of places!There are chairs with all kinds of colors and sizes.

Technology helps the rest of us breathe easier.

It helps the rest of us eat.

Some of our students get all of their nutrition with the help
of this technology, others just need a little help.

But there's so much more to life!

Thanks to technology, kids at my school can walk.This is a walker (I think the brand is Rifton). It can be used with or without the "seat". With this walker, kids develop leg muscles and more)

Thanks to technology, kids can ride a bike.This bike (from Rifton) has a padded "seatbelt" and velcro feet straps so that little feet won't slip. The handle on the front is so an adult can help steer or pull.

They can even ride with a friend.

This "bike for two" is so much fun! It is, however, very expensive.

Kids can walk with a buddy.

(This is less complicated than it looks - really. With the support of
the seat - between the big wheels - a student can "stand" and push
the walker with his or her hands, like a wheel chair, only standing up, putting them at eye level with the person they're walking with.

Sometimes they just need a good squeeze.

This is a "squeeze machine". Some folks with autism or ADD/ADHD come through this feeling more "organized." I don't know why it works...but it works.

And (last but not least) the rest of us like playgrounds, too!

This is a "wheelchair swing". The gate is let down and with both front and
back gates up, the chair is secure. For a lot of kids, just being able to feel the wind in their face as they swing back and forth - the look on their faces says it all.

But for all the technology, for all of the great things it does and lets us do...it will never replace...

I have a request. If you have a desire to be a part of this "technology" - it is so rewarding and there are so many ways to help!

Donate time. Volunteer at a local school - we are a "center-based" program - all of our kids have special needs. Hold a hand, walk with a kid, read a book.

"Fix stuff". The school I work at has a few volunteers that come in every so often to just fix stuff. There are a lot of wheels, a lot of chains. Just keeping them all oiled can be a challenge.

Donate money. This equipment is expensive! Every little bit helps and our governments generally don't provide enough.Donate stuff. "Ensure", diapers, pull-ups, towels, blankets...it's all needed.

This is what I do - it's where my heart is. Most days, I can't imagine doing anything other than what I'm doing (although some of the difficulties in our classroom I could do without).

It's not easy - but it is worth it.

The "girl-child" and I are a "group" in our class and we have a project due. Our subject is "the History of Christian Music", concentrating on the tension between "Contemporary Christian Music Industry" and the independents.

I ran across the words to this hymn by Martin Luther.

"We All Believe in One True God"

1. We all believe in one true God,
Who created earth and heaven,
The Father, who to us in love
Hath the right of children given.
He both soul and body feedeth,
All we need He doth provide us;
He through snares and perils leadeth,
Watching that no harm betide us.
He careth for us day and night,
All things are governed by His might.

2. We all believe in Jesus Christ,
His own Son, our Lord, possessing
An equal Godhead, throne, and might,
Source of every grace and blessing.
Born of Mary, virgin mother,
By the power of the Spirit,
Made true man, our elder Brother,
That the lost might life inherit;
Was crucified for sinful men
And raised by God to life again.

3. We all confess the Holy Ghost,
Who sweet grace and comfort giveth
And with the Father and the Son
In eternal glory liveth;
Who the Church, His own creation,
Keeps in unity of spirit.
Here forgiveness and salvation
Daily come through Jesus' merit.
All flesh shall rise, and we shall be
In bliss with God eternally. Amen.