CORY COOK

EDUCATION 226

Fall 2014
Field Placement: Special Education
Ministries
Alison Schantz
Every Thursday Night at Third
Reformed Church from 7:00 pm
8:15pm

Description
Provides a Christian Education
for adults who have a variety of
different disabilities
Each Hope student has a SEM
student
Build relationships
Bible song and lesson
Small groups after we sing

Reactions
At first: Extremely nervous and uncomfortable
Now: Excited and look forward to going!

Goals
BIGGEST GOAL: To become better at communicating with people
who have disabilities
I wanted to build friendships with not only my student but all of the
students
I wanted to learn more about people who have disabilities!
To help engage them in the worship songs
I wanted to have fun
Career preparation
Stick with it

Staff
Mrs. Alison Schantz
Graduated from Hope College
She is a resident director in Voorhees Hall
Works as a special education teacher
Very involved with her students

Responsibilities
Help them understand the bible lessons
To build relationships
Lead a lesson

Use of Technology
SEM does not use a variety of technologies:
Microphone
Overhead
My suggestion:
Lap top
Projector

Course and Text Connections

A lot of the students had a difficult time following social rules,
which falls under the description of an intellectual disability.
Struggle with adaptive behaviors:
1. Conceptual- reading, writing, telling time
2. Social skills- following social rules(Elvis), interpersonal skills
3. Life skills- dressing (name tag) , feeding (house mom),
communicating, working ( Kandu)
Many students with ID can learn to write. Writing has two major
aspects: (1) the action of writing letters to make words and (2) the
putting together of ideas into sentences and paragraphs.

Article: Adult Education

A broad approach has been taken
in considering adult education...
A very basic level of education is
required for many adults with
intellectual and developmental
disabilities, who increasingly
require opportunities to function
in society.
Independence live like normal
citizens
Guidance required
Programs like Kandu and RFL help
prepare them for jobs

The need for adult education:

Need to seek employment (
through community centers and
services, RFL)
Take care of one's own clothing
Look after personal hygiene
Carry out basic cooking
They also need social and
community education
The overall result is a pressing
need for a wide range of education
in preparation for and during the
adult years

Brown RI. 2010. Adult Education and Intellectual and Allied Developmental Disabilities.
In: JH Stone, M Blouin, editors. International Encyclopedia of Rehabilitation.

Internet Links
Kandu is a non- profit organization that gives people with barriers to
employment an opportunity to work.

Kandu has taught employment and life skills that transform someone labeled
unemployable into someone who does excellent work and earns a wage. At
Kandu we train them through providing paid work, and remove or help
overcome barriers for them to work at other companies.

http://www.kanduinc.org

Ready for Life is a non profit organization that gives college aged
people who have developmental disabilities more opportunities to
succeed academically. It provides post-secondary educational
experiences for college aged individuals experiencing cognitive,
learning, or social disabilities on campus.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/article/20120124/News/301249813

Strengths and Improvements

Strengths:

Building relationships with my students

Branching out to everyone
Joking around with students
Explaining the bible verses so that they can better understand
the lesson
Attendance

Weaknesses:
Participating in the songs
More confidence

Conclusion
I am more comfortable around people who have disabilities after
participating in SEM.
As an Occupational Therapist I am more interested in working with
people who have disabilities.
Our son could not hold a crayon or a pencil. Now hes writing his
alphabet and even buttoning his shirt!
I absolutely love SEM and hope to be back next semester!

Is it all about the

turkey? I think there is
a little more to it!

Be thankful in all
circumstances, for this
is Gods will for you
who belong to Christ
Jesus. Thessalonians
5:18