Ana is 15 years old, in the 10th grade, and has a dream. Her dream is to work (already accomplished), and to graduate from high school. She is a former student in my Special Day Class, and has been in Judy (my wife) and my life for five years.

Ana was living in a tough situation, and moved in with us for two years, to help her get to school everyday, and to avoid the many pitfalls of the gang culture. During this time she worked hard to learn the skills necessary to be independent as a teenager and adult.

She learned how to access the city buses, shop for food and clothes, seek medical and dental care, improve her English, hone her time and money skills, access help, accept her disability, stand up for herself, and to believe that she is a valuable member of our society. Middle school was a wonderful experience for her.

She was a member of the school basketball team, leadership class, worked in the cafeteria, and received an award for the "most improved" student in the school in front of 750 screaming middle school students at a school rally.

The situation at home improved for Ana, and during the summer of 2001, she moved back home with her mother and family. When she transitioned to high school in the fall, things went well for a couple of weeks, and then old patterns re-emerged.

She began coming later and later to school, and then missing days and weeks at a time. She confided in us that school was boring, and she wasn't learning the things that were important to her. Here is an excerpt from an interview with Ana on 9-27-01, prior to an IEP meeting to address her truancy.

What Ana Wants To Learn

• how to live in the world
• budgeting money
• job applications
• grocery store signs
• banking
• health care
• how to look for a job
• how to read maps
• how to read the classified ads
• how to use computers and the internet

Jobs Ana Is Interested In

• waitress
• security
• fast foods
• stockroom/sales in a mall
• cashier
• bagging groceries
• florist
• veterinary assistant
• pharmacy
• office filing
• operator
• day care
• helping old people
• shoe sales

Ana stated she wants to learn these things in her classes, or she would rather get a job and quit school.

At the IEP meeting the team decided on the following plan based on Ana's needs. Ana works in my classroom from 8:00 - 9:30am as a student aide, supervising the daily breakfast and bagel production, and at the Helping Heart Thrift Store from 9:30 - 11:30 am.

She works at all aspects of this business, including running the cash register independently. She then attends lunch, art, and one Special Day Class, at the high school. Her attendance has been perfect, and her job performance in my classroom and the thrift store was so exceptional that she was referred for a job at Macy's in the downtown mall.

Ana has worked there since summer began, and has received nothing but positive feedback from her manager. She loves her job, re-hanging clothes in the dressing room and on the sales floor. She has also been used as a translator with Spanish speaking customers.

She has never felt happier, more excited, or confident in her life. She did this all on her own, with the exception of filling out the job application, which I helped her with. She informed me today that she opened a savings account on her own, and has an ATM card.

As a teacher, watching Ana grow, has been a wonderful experience. She continues to do more on her own, and readily seeks help when needed.

Ana is further along than most students of similar disabilities due to her tenacious will to succeed, and I believe, from the intense training she received in my program, and our involvement in her life.

She is a success story, and I am so proud of her I could shout with joy to the world! Let us as a community honor our children's dreams, both disabled, and non disabled. Ana told me she would love to get email. You can do this through the contact page.

- Walter Gloshinski

P. S. The cap and gown are from when I received my Masters Degree in Special Education at Sonoma State University.