Module 3: Quality of Life as a Context for Developing Meaningful Education Programs

Respect

Respect embraces two definitions. Respect is:

  • Elicited by the qualities, abilities, and achievements of another
  • Is the regard you have for another person’s feelings, wishes, rights, and traditions

It’s important to engage your student in roles that are valued by others, roles that elicit respect. Valued roles will increase the student’s opportunity to be known and respected for who they are and for the contributions they can make.

Community presence plays a role in facilitating respect as it is necessary to be known to be valued. Choice connects to respecting another’s wishes, feelings, and traditions. For any chosen activity or IEP objective a student with complex needs is working on, there is often an interplay of any number of Quality of Life Indicators.

Opportunities need to be meaningful, valued activities that use the skills the student is working on at school. This includes meaningful participation in the classroom or performing an in-school or community-based job that is valued by the student and by others.

Respect:

  • Having a valued role and a valued place in society
  • Valued roles will increase any student’s opportunity to be known and respected for who they are
  • Intentional commitment to respect means providing opportunities for valued roles to students and supporting them to achieve success

Olivia is a student whose job it is to deliver muffins to the appreciative staff in the office. She pushes the muffin cart for support and also uses a voice output app to interact with office staff. 

Write down the ways in which Olivia’s job delivering muffins demonstrates respect as well as developing other skills.

Possible Responses

  • It’s a meaningful role for Olivia because it’s valued by the school staff
  • She is contributing to the school community
  • Olivia is working on her mobility skills
  • She is also developing her communication skills

An intentional commitment to respect means taking responsibility in providing students with complex needs opportunities for valued roles, as well as supporting the student to achieve success in these roles.

  • How do you facilitate respect for a student with complex needs?
  • How would you determine if a role was meaningful and valued?