Inclusion is more than an accessible desk or a name heard in role call. It’s more than a law, it’s more than the right thing, and when it’s done well, it can be beautiful.
There was a child in the middle of the class
the loneliest child they never did see
and the sad child sat all alone, all alone
and the sad child sat all alone.
And around this child
there was a wheelchair
the ugliest wheelchair they never did see
the chair on the child, and the child in class
and the sad child sat all alone, all alone
and the sad child sat all alone.
And on this chair
there was a Dynavox
the strangest Dynavox they never did see
the Dynavox on the chair, and the chair on the child, and the child in the class
and the sad child sat all alone, all alone
and the sad child sat all alone.
And on this Dynavox
there was a hand
the hardest working hand they never did see
the hand on the Dynavox, and the Dynavox on the chair, and the chair on the child, and the child in the class
and the sad child sat all alone, all alone
and the sad child sat all alone.
And with this hand
it spoke a word
the most profound word they never did hear
the word from the hand, and the hand on the Dynavox, and the Dynavox on
the chair, and the chair on the child, and the child in the class
and the sad child sat all alone, all alone
and the sad child sat all alone.
And with this word
there came a voice
the most beautiful voice they never did hear
the voice from the word, and the word from the hand, and the hand on
the Dynavox, and the Dynavox on the chair, and the chair on the child,
and the child in the class
and the sad child sat all alone, all alone
and the sad child sat all alone.
And behind this voice
there were two eyes
the most expressive eyes they never did see
the eyes behind the voice, and the voice from the word, and the word
from the hand, and the hand on the Dynavox, and the Dynavox on the
chair, and the chair on the child, and the child in the class
and the sad child sat all alone, all alone
and the sad child sat all alone.
And from these eyes
there dropped a tear
the most desperate tear they never did see
the tear from the eyes, and the eyes behind the voice, and the voice
from the word, and the word from the hand, and the hand on the Dynavox,
and the Dynavox on the chair, and the chair on the child, and the child
in the class
and the sad child sat all alone, all alone
and the sad child sat all alone.
And on that tear
there was a tissue
the gentlest tissue they never did see
the tissue on the tear, and the tear from the eyes, and the eyes
behind the voice, and the voice from the word, and the word from the
hand, and the hand on the Dynavox, and the Dynavox on the chair, and
the chair on the child, and the child in the class
and the sad child sat all alone, all alone
and the sad child sat all alone.
And holding that tissue
there was a hand
the kindest hand they never did see
the hand on the tissue, and the tissue on the tear, and the tear from
the eyes, and the eyes behind the voice, and the voice from the word,
and the word from the hand, and the hand on the Dynavox, and the
Dynavox on the chair, and the chair on the child, and the child in the
class
and the sad child sat all alone, all alone
and the sad child sat all alone.
And with that hand
there was acceptance
unconditional acceptance they never did see
acceptance from the hand, and the hand on the tissue, and the tissue
on the tear, and the tear from the eyes, and the eyes behind the
voice, and the voice from the word, and the word from the hand, and the
hand on the Dynavox, and the Dynavox on the chair, and the chair on the
child, and the child in the class
and the sad child sat all alone, all alone
and the sad child sat all alone.
And from that acceptance
there grew a friendship
the most perfect friendship there was no choice but to see
the friendship from acceptance, and acceptance from the hand, and the
hand on the tissue, and the tissue on the tear, and the tear from the
eyes, and the eyes behind the voice, and the voice from the word, and
the word from the hand, and the hand on the Dynavox, and the Dynavox on
the chair, and the chair on the child, and the child in the class
and the new friend turned things around, all around
and the new friend turned things around.