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The Book “Out of My Mind” By Sharon Draper is  about Melody who is  an 11 year old girl. She is very smart and even has a photographic memory. However, she cannot talk, walk, or take herself to the bathroom. She cannot grasp or hold things for long. While she likes that she doesn’t forget anything she wishes she could share it to the world, but she cannot. Melody describes one instance when she was four in which she tried to warn her mother of a toy that had led paint, that was recalled yet still on the shelf. Since she could not talk, her mother thought she wanted the toy, and was having a temper tantrum. Melody calls these her “Tornado Explosions” in which she loses control because she cannot express herself. “I am always amazed at how adults assume I can’t hear”. Melody describes her experience with doctors a not so pleasant experience. Her doctor said how she had cerebral palsy. Not only that, but said she was “...Profoundly retarded”. He exclaims “ She will never be able to feed herself, take care of herself, take care of herself, or understand anything more then simple instructions. “ He even suggested that Melody be sent away to facility, away from her parents.  Her mother sends her to elementary school anyways, but for the most part she does not enjoy it. She has a communication board, but she is very limited to what she can say on the board. “I Screeched because I couldn’t tell her shut up”. Melody loves her inclusion classes and feels it is truly a time in which they are learning. Eventually, Melody gets A Medi-Talker, and for the first time in her life she is able to communicate more.  She programs more and more words ands begins to communicate more and more. She gets all the questions right on a quiz competition practice test and even makes the quiz competition team, despite many of her classmates and teacher thinking she is not smart enough for it. She competes with the team, and they even make it to the Final Whiz Kids competition in Washington, DC!  Her teammates, however, go the competition without her, leaving with her unable to. The team lost in Washington DC. This makes Melody, her family members, and Neighbor and life long tutor and babysitter MS. V. very upset. Despite being upset the team left her, Melody begs her parents to go to school the next day. Melody tried to warn her mother that her little sister, Penny was next to the car, but could not communicate this to her parents. Melody feels as though the whole thing is her fault. Penny gets hit with the  car and get severely injured, but is thankfully okay. She has a cast, and does not have  any injuries that will effect her long term. Melody returns to school. She is offered a plastic medal for helping the Whiz kids team, but she breaks it. She does not want a medal from a team she was left out from. She leaves the classroom.

Melody describes how she never feels like she fits in. She begins writing her autobiography about her life for Miss Gordon's Class.. all about the words that fill her head, but she had never been able to speak.

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This book was a sad, but eye-opening book. It really shows that just because someone is non-verbal, does not mean they are non-understanding. A child could be non-verbal, and yet super smart, just unable to communicate  what they are thinking to anyone. I felt is very sad how her peers and teachers treated her. I do not understand why people like Claire would be so mean to her. I do not understand how or why the “Whiz Kid Team” would leave without her.

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In class, we learned about Speech/language  Impairments. Speech or Language impairments can vary from student to student. Some Strategies/SDIs  to change for the Physical Environment(and to help those with speech and language impairments) is to sit children near front of classroom/where teacher frequently stands, visuals. One material for students with a speech impairment is an Alternative or Augmentative Communication (AAC). Aided devises use of an external device, simple handmade materials, picture board, technology. Unaided devices include individual’s own body, gestures, pointing, eye movement

Instructional Procedures include Well-organized presentations, pacing, questioning and feedback, student engagement.  Additionally, silent response cards allow opportunities for all students to participate.

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Characters Such as MS. Billups who quit her job,  did not meet the needs of her students and taught the ABCs over and over again. She didn’t even look at students previous records. Mr. Dimmings made comments such as “If Melody Brooks can win the first round, then my questions must not be hard enough. “ or talking to the aid rather then her personally, suggesting that someone else read it. I assume there are teachers like this in real life, but it makes me genuinely curious as to why people would get into a field when they do not have the students best interest?

How can we best support students who are non-verbal/communicate with children who are non-verbal?

How can we ensure that students in our general education classroom are kind to other who have a disabilities? How to we educate our students about children who have disabilities?

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While I do not know any children who have cerebral Palsy, I work in a daycare in which there is a 2 year old child who is nonverbal. I am not too often in his room( Older 2 year olds and younger 3 year olds),so I have not really gotten to know or work much with this child. However, I know it is often difficult to communicate with him since he does not speak at all. I believe they are working to teach the child some sign language in order to communicate.

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Cerebral Palsy, according to the CDC is a movement disorder that effects movement and posture.Many with CP “Many also have related conditions such as intellectual disability; seizures; problems with vision, hearing, or speech; changes in the spine (such as scoliosis); or joint problems (such as contractures).”

This Article linked above discusses what cerebral Palsy is as well as types, early signs ones child may have it, screening and diagnosis, treatments and interventions, and causes and risk factors.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood. Learn more facts.