LIVING AND LEARNING

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 CLOSURE OF COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTRE
 
"A human being is part of the whole called by us universe , a part limited in time and space. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest. A kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from the prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty...We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive." - Albert Einstein


In this blog I want to focus on the idea in the quote above about widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.  As parents of a disabled child we were given the opportunity to love and teach her even though 'friends' felt it necessary after Miriam's birth to suggest she should be sent to a 'home' away from her natural home.  Was she not beautiful enough?  

After Miriam had a stroke in 2001 just before she turned 40 she could no longer work in a sheltered workplace, she could no longer go to her art class, but she was accepted in the Community Learning Centre's Class for Adult Students with Special Needs.

During the past winter we heard that the Community Learning Centre in York Place would no longer qualify for government funding.  Twenty years ago it was set up by a group of parents who had a dream that their disabled children deserved a place to keep on learning after their main schooling was completed.  Supported by the Ministry of Education through Logan Park High School the Community Learning Centre has been the only Class for Adult Students with Special Needs of its type in New Zealand.  A prototype. 

 And now change is afoot. The government has refused to support this Special Needs Class.  Trudy Scott and several parents have tried to find funding to continue the amazing work but it now seems that their efforts have been in vain and we were shocked to hear that this was happening.  Trudy and her staff have done extraordinary and amazing work with this class.

I remember Miriam's homecoming after her first day at CLC : she was enthusiastic and keen to show what she had done that day. This attitude and keenness has never changed in all these years.   Monday, Wednesday and Thursday - such special days for her.  Returning home on those afternoons she shows us her diary which has been meticulously filled in by the staff.  She writes in this diary what the highlight of the previous night has been so she can tell the class about it.  As parents we delight in seeing Miriam's pride when she has completed a Craft project.  Each day has a structured programme: reading and arithmetic are on Monday mornings. News is every morning, speaking and listening and asking questions.  The students feel secure in knowing that all the programmes have structure and routine whether it's Reading, Cooking or Shopping for lunch.  Wednesdays are special because the staff teach the students how to prepare and cook lunch and this process has been even more worthwhile because of the choice they have in what to prepare each week.  A choice of making decisions, being part of a decision-making process!   How many people do have that choice?

Miriam and Trudy with newly-made scarves

For us, as parents and full-time caregivers, it has meant a lot to know that our daughter has been kept occupied in a constructive way Trudy and her team of valuable helpers.Their  devotion, patience and compassion to Miriam and her class mates cannot be measured in dollars.

 I hear stories about the X-factor: I wished that more people could take a lesson from Trudy and her staff learning how to respect and treat people with disabilities.

Not only Miriam's life but also our lives will be changed for the worse if the closure of the Community Learning Centre goes ahead. How will we, in our mid-seventies, manage? We cannot leave her at home by herself any longer. But our biggest concern is : What will Miriam and her fellow students do all day? Where will they find acceptance? Where will they continue to be part of a team, sharing the excitement of a completed project? Who in the community will make them feel worthwhile?

Trudy and her team have not restricted their personal desires and affection for people closest to them.  They have embraced each class with a love that goes beyond understanding.

 

Trudy Scott and Miriam at Miriam's 50th