Emphasis on Empathy by Jessica

Emphasis on Empathy by Jessica - November 2021 Scholarship Essay

I believe that there should be classes taught during early childhood and middle school emphasizing the need to be empathetic towards children with alternative and special needs. This should include more in depth training for staff on how to safely and empathetically deescalate potentially traumatic situations where children may need more understanding than discipline.

In most schools that we have experienced, my 14 year old son has encountered multiple situation where staff and peers did not understand his sensory processing disorders in relation to his autism and adhd. We struggle daily now with symptoms of anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress from physical restraints used at schools by staff members and encouraged bullying by peers.
Thankfully, we are in a unique position where I have been able to homeschool and help him heal, however; not many parents are in this situation and are forced to watch their children deteriorate daily attending schools with undereducated staff and a student body lacking empathy.

If there was a light shed on how, sometimes just extra compassion and patience could make the difference for so many people's lives not just in school but beyond as well, we could free our children into a kinder world.