Inclusion! What's In It For Everyone?

Janet Fittry

My name is Janet Fittry and I have an 8 year old son who was diagnoised with an anxiety disorder known as Selective Mutism. Selective Mutism is an anxiety disorder to where children and adults are afraid to talk, like some of us are afraid of mice, spiders, and snakes. My son Ryan now in the 3rd grade has been in the regular classrooms since he started school in 2005. Through out the years, the children in my son’s class has always known Ryan not to talk, and often told others Ryan was the kid who didn’t talk. From the start of my son’s school year in 2005, I often worried how others would see him, if they would target him, and bully him, or would they over look the not talking part, and want to be his friend. I was always told from different teachers how good Ryan get’s along with others and has many friends. I got my chance to see for myself one year when Ryan was in 1st grade.

I had attended my son’s class Christmas party, along with other parents, and was very surprised to see how well my son communicated non-verbally with other children in his class. The children had learned to look at Ryan, and ask him things in a yes and no form, so Ryan could reply by nodding his head. I was amazed how Ryan would get others attention by tapping on their shoulder, and pointing, and showing them what he had, and actually use his own techniques to let others know excatallly what he was telling them. The children would understand, and they would actually carry on conversation with Ryan. It makes one wonder how a child with out a voice could tell others so much information without making a sound. As I watched, I knew that Ryan was telling them he had the same type of car at home, but a different color.

I feel that my son and the children in his class have both benifited from this experience. A child with an anxiety disorder, such as selective mutism, is a very painful experience for the child and the parent. The last thing Ryan needed was to feel different, or to be left out because he was different. The children have shown Ryan great support through out the years. The children in his class have learned a new way to communicate with someone first hand who was afraid to talk. A new way to make a friend, and be a friend.

Ryan is now in 3rd grade, and went back to school this year with a voice for the first time. If it wasn’t for the support of the children in his class, I truely believe it would have been a hard task for Ryan to return to school with a voice, that he was ready to share!