Swimming with arms only an examination of the life and professional practices of a special education teacher with special needs

Abstract

This project is a journey of both personal and professional reflection that spans over a period of forty-five years. I have attempted to document my life under the consideration of the themes that surfaced while writing narrative accounts. Parents, inclusion, friends, and society were areas that resurfaced as I researched and wrote this project. The introduction gives an overview of my life as a person living with spina bifida and then examines the history of inclusion and how society has viewed the disabled. After examining my life and the society in which I live, the project looks at my practices as a special education teacher. Reflecting on my life, my practices and where I wish to go from here based on my new understanding of self completes the project.