28: Giving a Voice to People with Disabilities | Jordyn Zimmerman
Sep 08, 2020Imagine going through primary and secondary school without the ability to speak. That is exactly what Jordyn Zimmerman overcame. Diagnosed with autism at an early age, Jordyn is non-speaking. She shares her inspiring story along with her passion for special education reform.
Quotes:
- “When a student is young, schools and communities are often very good at inclusion, but as I got older, I was separated more and more.” – Jordyn Zimmerman
- “Even after I started communicating with my iPad, there was this notion from my teachers that it wasn’t possible, this idea that I wasn’t that capable.” – Jordyn Zimmerman
- “I don’t believe special education is working as it is.” – Jordyn Zimmerman
- “We should have more individualized education across the board, that really every child is special and there shouldn’t be this separation. We should meet each child where they are.” – Emily Melious
- “The heart of my message is that everyone has language. The problem is that when others don’t give us access to devices or don’t acknowledge our words, we may not realize the power of them.” – Jordyn Zimmerman
Highlights:
- 1:12 – A voice
- 2:38 – Receiving a new voice
- 3:52 – Felling underestimated
- 5:57 – A call for change in special education
- 7:15 – Specific terminology
- 8:46 – COVID-19’s impact on people with disabilities
- 10:25 – Advice for parents
- 11:22 – Jordyn’s message for the world
- 11:49 – Understanding language
Resources:
- To learn more about Jordyn and her work, visit her website: www.jordynzimmerman.com
- Follow Jordyn on Twitter: @JordynBZim
Speakers:
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