As a student at the University of Kansas, I was studying
biology for pre-med. I always knew I
wanted to work with children and to somehow make a difference in their
lives. At the time, I had never heard
the word autism nor did I know anyone who had been diagnosed. All I knew was I wanted to work with children.
Early in my college education, I realized biology and chemistry were not for
me. Half way through my second year of
college, I enrolled in a child development class and absolutely fell in
love. From there I started exploring
some psychology classes. It wasn’t until
I changed majors from Biology to Human Development and Family Life/Psychology
that I found my true calling. I enrolled
in some behavior modification classes and then had to pick an emphasis within
my major. I chose “Working with Students
with Autism”. I took courses that primarily
focused on the autism spectrum. I
excelled in these courses and loved them. I enjoyed the readings, the
assignments, and didn’t dread the tests. This was what I was supposed to be
studying.
It was then that I met my first student.
 |
| Katie Norman with my son Isaac & his Autism Specialist, Mr. Todd. |
A foster grandmother had approached me in one
of my classes. She needed some home support for her grandson with autism. She asked me to meet him and work with him at
home as well as take him into the community.
I had read about students with autism and ways to teach them but this
was going to be a new challenge. From
the time we first met, I became a part of his family. I worked with him several days a week after school. Don’t get me wrong, he was a challenge for me
and for his grandparents - both behaviorally and academically. However to watch
the progress he made over time, made it all worth it. It reinforced my belief that I was in a field
I loved. I worked with him in the home setting from the time he was 8. He’s now
21 and I still keep in touch with his family.
Although I taught this student a lot, he and his family
taught me even more. They taught me to
love unconditionally, compassion, patience, and to never give up.
I graduated college, obtained my teaching certificate and a
master’s degree. Then I started my career as an Early Childhood Autism
Teacher. I was in for what I thought of
as the challenge of my life (up to that point).
I was a first year teacher opening up a new program with 6 students with
autism and 3 peer models. I knew how to
do 1:1, but what was I going to do with 6?
It was also my first time managing classroom paras. Yes, it was difficult at first, but it was one
of the most rewarding times in my career.
I built a program for these students and got to watch them flourish
first hand. I was there writing their
initial IEP‘s and talking their parents through what it would be like to send
their babies to school for the first time.
I had to build trust and confidence with these parents. I also had to be a shoulder for them to cry
on for parents who recently received the diagnoses – and sometimes I cried
to.
There isn’t anything was more exciting than hearing a student’s
first word or witnessing a first sign. I
videotaped these milestones so the parents wouldn’t miss out. I witnessed many other first milestones - students
using the potty for the first time, a student who could no more than sit for a
portion of circle time could now lead circle time, a student who wouldn’t touch
paint was now a master in art center.
These were the times that made smile.
Our moto was “Tiny steps to giant victories” and that is exactly what it
was in my classroom. We celebrated each and every “tiny step”.
When I made the choice to leave the
classroom—one of the hardest decisions ever—I put on a preschool graduation for
my students. At that time there were 8
identified students and 4 peer models.
The students participated in a circle time session with their parents
and then was followed by a slide show of my class and students over the last
two years. There was not a dry eye in
the room. I was the worst. I was saying goodbye to many of my first
students who had come so far. Goodbye to my classroom and para educators. Each and everyone one of these students,
parents, and staff were a blessing to myself, to each other and together we
learned a ton. I will never forget my
first students. I still see some of them
today as they are get ready to transition to middle school. They have come so far. I am so proud of each
and every one of them.
If you could work with people with disabilities, what area would you choose?
Katie Norman is an Autism Specialist for Olathe School District. She taught an autism preschool prior to
becoming an autism specialist. She studied at University of Kansas for
both her undergraduate degree and Master of Science in Special
Education. She is currently taking course work
through Florida Institute of Technology in Behavior Analysis. She loves her job, the students she work with, and the families she is able to support!
