A few weeks ago a visitor to my classroom called me inspirational. Within 5 minutes of our children entering the room – We had inspired her . It was a well intentioned compliment and I suppose I should be flattered. My class have complex mobility, medical and learning differences. We have put a lot of time and emphasis into building attunement using their individual and wonderfully diverse ways of communicating.

However in reality all I had done, was say good morning to our children , in the way they each communicate.

I often get told how ‘challenging’ and ‘difficult’ my job must be . Why would it be more so than any other teacher ? My class are not ‘challenging’ or ‘difficult’. We just need to listen in all the ways people communicate .

If I stood in a mainstream classroom and said ‘good morning children’ would I be an inspiration?

We call it listening differently ; but in reality we are just listening , it’s basic human interaction, it’s a right not a privilege to be inspired by .