Sister Li is a teacher of a resource class
for the physically and mentally handicapped in a primary school. She
has many years of experience in special education, teaching mentally
and physically disabled students. Her class consists of students with
an IQ of above 50, but whose learning ability is hindered by symptoms
such as autism, physical deformations, visual or hearing disabilities,
or schizophrenia. These students usually study in the same classes
with normal students, but also attend specially arranged resource
classes, where they receive special individual training.
All
parents want to have healthy children, and many find themselves unable
to cope when their children are born with disabilities. With deep
feelings, sister Li said: "Both parents and children must learn
to cope with such psychological fear and withdrawal." Unfortunately,
many parents fail to overcome their fear; they can only hide it in
their hearts and weep secretly. Eventually, they abandon their children,
depriving these young souls of a sense of security. On the other hand,
Sister Li has also witnessed many great parents, some of whom were
single parents who bravely walked with their children out of the shadows
to face the challenges of life together. Here is a statement made
by a famous disabled warrior in Formosa: "God simply joked with
me to let me experience the radiance of life through my own endeavors!"
Not every disabled person can live in such a cheerful and unrestrained
manner. They need many people to light up their lives, show them the
way, and give them timely support and encouragement. These people
subsequently win their trust and help them further to open their long-locked
hearts."
By
practicing the Quan Yin Method, sister Li feels that an inner power
is constantly supporting her, giving her greater love and patience
to carry on with her arduous work. When teaching this group of children,
she accepts and identifies with them, without pampering or over-protecting
them. To fulfill her educational responsibility as a light kindler
and guide, she finds all kinds of flexible ways to build up the trust
of children, and to show them that she wants to help and guide them,
and will never abandon them.
In her resource class was one first-grader, who had very young parents.
Since the child was born with a hearing deficiency, they felt deeply
hurt and locked the child in their home, giving him no sense of security.
When the child first came to school, he was autistic and often refused
to learn or have any contact with his schoolmates. His teacher, therefore,
arranged for him to attend sister Li's resource class. When his classmates
from the higher grades were joyfully engaged in speech training for
those students who are disabled in hearing, he always sat alone in
a corner. Sister Li tried every way that she could think of to guide
him, but he always responded by crying.
Even
then, sister Li never gave up on him. She loved and cared for him
as if he were her own child. Under her persistent loving guidance,
the boy finally showed some improvement. He stopped crying, and even
talked about the television program that he had watched at home the
day before. Every day, he would bring something for sister Li.
When
the students from the higher grades encountered unhappy incidents,
they would also pour out their grief to sister Li, who patiently exchanged
ideas with them and took the opportunity to prepare them psychologically
to handle such situations. She let them understand that, when a person
makes a greater effort than others and goes through more setbacks
and ordeals, his life becomes more meaningful and shines with greater
radiance.