TED Institute offers Emilie Weight’s presentation about living with a son who has an intellectual disability. In fact, this short talk impressed me a lot because and caused several reactions. First, I was excited about Emily’s attitude toward the situation and her courage to share her experience with the child’s exceptionality. In the middle of the talk, my feelings changed because I realized that, despite the already offered knowledge and discussions, many people could not treat disabilities properly. Emily mentioned the importance of emotional intelligence and the possibility of children to see “through” people and feel everything “instantly” (TED Institute, 2018). I was upset about the inability to protect all children the way they actually deserved. The end of the presentation set the necessary positive mood and provoked the desire to act and strive for improvements. Disabilities become a part of human life, but they should not be considered as a challenge, but a means to enrich our existence and “bring flowers” that many people have forgotten (TED Institute, 2018). I felt motivated and wanted to learn more experiences of other people.
I think that my reaction was provoked by the already obtained knowledge and experience in the chosen theme of children’s exceptionality. I like the idea that many parents are ready to support their children and create an environment where a disability is not just a diagnosis that causes shock or frustration but an opportunity to view this life from another perspective. I know that not all families accept the news properly and try to find out the causes or the best outcomes. This TED talk is about stimulating parents and educators to treat children sensitively and respectfully. Sometimes, adults forget or neglect the fact that children can feel everything even if they do not know or understand something. Therefore, my reaction to continue learning about children’s disabilities is my desire to contribute to social and emotional well-being.
After watching this presentation, I learned three important lessons to be applied to my future career. First, as well as the speaker, I want to focus on mindfulness because there are so many things that people miss or do not find necessary to recognize. Children with disabilities let parents or educators see not only what is on the surface but somewhere inside. Being obsessed with routine obligations and daily activities, people do have enough time or attention to enjoy the beauty that is around them. Therefore, the second lesson about time management is also a vital factor in the discussion. It is not easy to work with children who have disabilities. When there is a plan, some problems disappear or may quickly be solved. Thirdly, emotional intelligence is a trend that has to be properly promoted in education. Teachers and parents should never allow their negative emotions to influence their relationships with children. I must keep in mind that my speech, tone, or even look could have a special meaning for a person, and emotional control is what makes me professional and conscious.
My professional interactions with children with disabilities and their families will be considerably improved if I follow the recommendations offered in this TED talk. I have never thought about the impact of emotional intelligence on early childhood education. Now, I see that children’s abilities to pay attention to human emotions could change their behaviors. My task is to investigate this skill and apply it properly. Empathy and motivation are necessary for children, and I have to become the best source of knowledge for all children.
Reference
TED Institute. (2018). 3 things I learned from my intellectually disabled son [Video]. Web.