My Supports

I receive many different emotional, practical and physical supports throughout the week at home and at work.
Emotionally, I get much support from my fiance and my family. My fiance is the one who supported me to go back to school and helps me when I am very stressed out with balancing schoolwork, my career, and keeping up the home. He reminds me that the work is worth it, and helps out where needed. He is also very good at helping me turn frustrating situations around to see another side of it. He is a cheerleader of sorts during mountain hikes and snowshoeing trips, helping me push myself to my limits. My sisters and mom are also very supportive emotionally. They can tell whether I am seeking advice, or just need an ear to listen, whether my conflicts are work-related or personal.
Practical supports I use most often in my life are routines and schedules, lists, and my weekly planner. Routines and schedules help me balance the many aspects of my life, such as work, school, and family (and soon- wedding planning!) Lists help me keep track of paperwork that has important deadlines to keep in compliance with special education law. My weekly planner is another way I organize my routine and schedule, and helps me to remember what is coming up that week.
I do not have many physical supports I need. Around the classroom and home I am in need of a step ladder to reach top shelves, and can only perform two-person escorts when responding to children who are a danger to themselves and/or others on the rare occasion it is needed.  When I have parent meetings, I often have found it helpful to dress a step above the usual professional dress, so as to appear my age, as I have been told more than once by parents that I don't look old enough to teach (that can make it difficult to begin building relationships!)

The challenge I chose to imagine was a sensory challenge, as I work with a couple students that have difficulty with where their body is in relation to other people and objects around them. Imagine being out on the playground, surrounded by loud children zooming by you, and not knowing whether or not they will crash into you or not. Imagine walking over to get your backpack from the coat rack, with all the other children jostling and pushing into you. Supports I would need as an adult with this sensory challenge may include tools to help me keep my materials organized, and places to eat lunch that are not super-crowded. I may need self-calming techniques to help me manage the anxiety that comes from coping with new situations where I am unsure of how many people will be there or how close together we will be sitting. These supports would be essential for me to carry out my job, which includes occasional crowds, meetings and conferences, and lots of paperwork. Without them, it would be very difficult to carry through every-day activities.