Teacher gets recognition for helping our community!
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richinma2005
- Posts: 861
- Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:00 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Daughter Kailyn ROBPI, June 14, 1997.
Surgery with Dr Waters (BCH), April 1999 and in February 2012
2 more daughters, Julia (1999), Sarah(2002) born Cesarean.
Teacher gets recognition for helping our community!
http://journalstar.com/news/local/educa ... 84d72.html
Lauren was born with a nerve injury that causes weakness in her right arm and hand. She played the clarinet in elementary school, but it was getting hard to hold it and she struggled to move her fingers from key to key.
Then she got to middle school, and Karas helped her find a solution.
“He never treated me as an injured person who couldn’t do stuff, he treated me as a normal person,” Lauren wrote in her nomination letter. "I have always known I had limitations, but most teachers end up making it more of a big deal than it has to be.”
Karas met Lauren when he visited fifth-graders at her elementary school and noticed she was having trouble. He didn’t make a big deal of it, but he did file it away, and when she got to Lefler he paid attention.
First, he gave her a neck strap to help her support the clarinet. Then he noticed she was having more trouble with the higher notes, so he rewrote the music an octave lower for her. Then he thought, if lower notes work better, a bass clarinet might be a better fit.
The instrument has larger holes, which are easier for her fingers to play, and it rests on the floor, so supporting it isn’t a problem. When one became available at school, he suggested she try it.
“I’ve grown to love the bass clarinet,” she said.
This year, she was selected for all-city band and will play three pieces at a districtwide event this week — opportunities she wouldn't have had without Karas.
Lauren was born with a nerve injury that causes weakness in her right arm and hand. She played the clarinet in elementary school, but it was getting hard to hold it and she struggled to move her fingers from key to key.
Then she got to middle school, and Karas helped her find a solution.
“He never treated me as an injured person who couldn’t do stuff, he treated me as a normal person,” Lauren wrote in her nomination letter. "I have always known I had limitations, but most teachers end up making it more of a big deal than it has to be.”
Karas met Lauren when he visited fifth-graders at her elementary school and noticed she was having trouble. He didn’t make a big deal of it, but he did file it away, and when she got to Lefler he paid attention.
First, he gave her a neck strap to help her support the clarinet. Then he noticed she was having more trouble with the higher notes, so he rewrote the music an octave lower for her. Then he thought, if lower notes work better, a bass clarinet might be a better fit.
The instrument has larger holes, which are easier for her fingers to play, and it rests on the floor, so supporting it isn’t a problem. When one became available at school, he suggested she try it.
“I’ve grown to love the bass clarinet,” she said.
This year, she was selected for all-city band and will play three pieces at a districtwide event this week — opportunities she wouldn't have had without Karas.
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ASC
- Posts: 113
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2012 10:41 am
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: OBPI
Re: Teacher gets recognition for helping our community!
Way to go! Another form of adapting to the issue. And, enjoying playing a musical instrument.
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Carolyn J
- Posts: 3424
- Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:22 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI. I am 77 yrs old and never had a name for my injuries until 2004 when I found UBPN at age 66.
My injuries are: LOBPI on upper body and Cerebrael Palsy on the lower left extremities. The only intervention I've had is a tendon transplant from my left leg to my left foot to enable flexing t age 24 in 1962. Before that, my foot would freeze without notice on the side when wearing heels AND I always did wear them at work "to fit in" I also stuttered until around age 18-19...just outgrew it...no therapy for it. Also suffered from very very low self esteem; severe Depression and Anxiety attacks started at menopause. I stuffed emotions and over-compensated in every thing I did to "fit in" and be "invisible". My injuries were Never addressed or talked about until age 66. I am a late bloomer!!!!!
I welcome any and all questions about "My Journey".
There is NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION.
Sharing helps to Heal. HUGS do too. - Location: Tacoma WA
- Contact:
Re: Teacher gets recognition for helping our community!
AWESOME!! Sure is encouraging.
Carolyn J
LOBPI/75+++
Carolyn J
LOBPI/75+++
