M32U3A2
Diversity in Special needs (e.g. medical conditions, physical limitations)
Shekou, China is a beautiful, historical, old city. This area has been modernized however, the infrastructure is decades old and maintains a lot of its historical attributes, which is one of the many reasons I love this city. However, when it comes to handicap accessible areas or inclusion of people with physical disabilities, the city is lacking and can show improvement. This includes my school; Shekou International School. Even though our school has elevators, there are stairs required to reach the entrance of the building. There is an obvious need for a handicap accessible ramp.
About Terry Fox
Eighteen-year-old Terry Fox of Port Coquitlam, BC never saw himself as remarkable. Granted, he displayed an unusual determination to achieve the goals he set for himself but his orbit was local – family, school, sports and friends. But Terry’s cancer diagnosis of osteogenic sarcoma just above the knee, the subsequent amputation of his leg and experience in the children’s cancer wards changed all that. A newly nurtured reservoir of compassion, combined with a fierce determination to bring an end to the suffering cancer causes, set Terry on a path that, quite simply, changed the world.
Terry’s personal experience and research led him to a simple conclusion – more money was needed for cancer research. And so, in the modest but motivated style that would prove to be his trademark, Terry started training and planning for his cross-Canada run to raise funds for cancer research. He dipped his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean on April 12th, 1980 and proceeded to unite Canadians in a way never before, nor since, seen. The only thing that could have stopped Terry from reaching the Pacific Ocean did. Cancer returned in his lungs and he was forced to stop on September 1st, 1980 after having run 5,373 kilometres.
Before his death on June 28, 1981, Terry had achieved his once unimaginable goal of $1 from every Canadian. More importantly, he had set in motion the framework for an event, The Terry Fox Run, that would ignite cancer research in Canada, raising more than $850 million since 1980, and bring hope and health to millions of Canadians.
Reference:
Terry Fox Run. (2021). The Terry Fox Foundation. Retrieved December 3, 2022, from https://terryfoxschoolrun.org/
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Personal Reflection:
SIS holds the beliefs that all students are compassionate, empathetic and life-long learners who give back to the community in which they live.
One way to better show inclusion in the community is to include people with diversity in special needs.
Unfortunately China's infrastructure does not have a lot of room people with handicap needs, however, there is room for growth and inclusion.
Almost everyone has been impacted by cancer at some point in their lives, and unfortunately in China it is a topic that is not discussed openly.
The story of Terry Fox is heart-breaking, a young person who eventually loses his life to cancer before he has a chance to live it fully. But in the short time from his diagnosis in 1980, to his death in 1981 he made a tremendous impact on the world and promoted discussions and fundraising for pediatric cancer research and care facilities. In order to promote inclusion within the international education system for students with physical disabilities and the community in which they live. I believe that fundraising for cancer research via the Terry Fox run is a fun and healthy way to make a positive impact on the community. By bringing the story of Terry Fox and others with similar stories to the forefront of the community, maybe we can make small changes that can make Shekou more handicap friendly.