Celebrating the lives of African Americans Who Have Made Monumental Strides in the Lives of Children with Special Needs

August 12, 2020 Esther Assenso

by Esther Assenso

Edited by Allison Murray

Children with special needs have been able to live extraordinary lives thanks to the work of doctors, educators, and advocates dedicated to uplifting and promoting the well being of these children. The contributions of African Americans in particular have made a difference in the lives of children with special needs. In this blog post, we want to celebrate the lives and contributions of African Americans who have made monumental strides in policy and healthcare for the lives of children with special needs.

After an operation that took 22 painstaking hours, Dr. Ben Carson successfully separated 7-month old Siamese conjoined twins—an operation that made medical history. While Carson is famously known for this operation, he piloted several other surgical innovations including the first intra-uterine procedure to relieve pressure on the brain of a hydrocephalic fetal twin.

Carson's success as a neurosurgeon not only stems from his dedication to his patients, but also from his humble beginnings growing up in a poor neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan. Carson’s single mother, Sonya, worked two to three jobs simultaneously to support her children and to teach them anything is possible through hard work and dedication. Carson embodied those characteristics throughout his professional career. Dr. Carson graduated with a B.A. in psychology from Yale University, and he continued to the School of Medicine at the University of Michigan. In 1985, he became the youngest US physician to hold a high ranking position as the director of pediatric neurosurgery at the age of 33.

Every first Monday of October is an opportunity to celebrate the well-being of all children, a day known as National Child Health Day, first instituted in 1928. When we celebrate this day, we also celebrate the life of Fannie C. Williams who dedicated her life to the educational system for African Americans and the physical, emotional, and mental development of children. William’s devotion to education stems from her professional career, as she taught and served as principal at several elementary schools and mentored several teachers along the way. In addition to her career, she committed herself to community development. In fact, she was the first president of the Board of Management of the African American Branch of the New Orleans YWCA. Williams' advocacy has shaped our nation’s value for the health and quality of life of our children.

After accepting a position counseling students, Edmund Gordon soon realized his training from his divinity school would not be enough to provide quality counseling to his students. Consequently, Gordon continued his education to study psychology and earned his doctorate of education in child development and guidance. Thereafter, he dedicated more than 50 years of his career to improving education and closing achievement gaps. One of his most notable achievements was helping design the Head Start Program, which ensures school readiness of children ages birth to five by supporting their development. Today, the Head Start Program services over a million children every year, including providing necessary programming for children with special needs.

Marian Wright Edelman grew up in a household that taught her that poverty and racism should not prevent her from climbing the ladder of success. With these values instilled in her core, Edelman graduated from Spelman College and continued to Yale University Law School. She became the first African American woman to pass the Mississippi bar exam. Edelman used the platform of her own success to advocate for disadvantaged children in the United States. In 1973, Edelman founded the Children’s Defense Fund, a nation child advocacy organization dedicated to uplifting all children, especially poor children and people of color. The Children’s Defense Fund works today “to build bipartisan support to enact laws that have helped millions of children fulfill their potential and escape poverty because they received the health care, child care, nurturing, proper nutrition and education they deserve.”

When her son, Elijah, was born at 1lb 6oz, the doctors said he may never be able to walk, talk, or learn like other children. Dr. Nicole Anthony was filled with anxiety and worry for the future of her son who would have so many needs. However, Nicole transformed her angst into motivation to learn more about her son, who was diagnosed with autism and developmental disabilities. While teaching in public schools, Nicole worked with families and infants as an early intervention provider and Applied Behavior Analysis specialist, and she pursued her MSED in Education with a dual license in special education from Touro College. She continued by pursuing a doctoral degree in education with a concentration in special education at Old Dominion University. Nicole’s dedication to advocating for children with special needs and their families culminated in Elijah’s Place Advocacy Group, an organization dedicated to providing resources necessary for children with special needs and their families to receive free, quality public education. As a passionate advocate, Nicole has blazed a trail to provide quality education so “students with special needs can be just as successful as their non disabled peers in the general education classroom.”

“Be the change you want to see” is the mantra Pump adopted for herself when she heard an individual on a radio broadcast make a joke about developmental disabilities for comedic entertainment. As the mother of a daughter with nonverbal autism and SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder), she was outraged and refused to stay silent. Pump used her voice to speak up against the insensitivity against those with disabilities through a YouTube video which gained the attention of thousands. Pump continues to be an advocate for families and children with special needs through her organization, Walk One Day in Our Shoes, on several social media platforms. Pump’s unique organization provides a platform for others to walk in the shoes of individuals with special needs in order to promote acceptance and awareness within the developmental disabilities community.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a mental illness that occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. However, Black and Hispanic children are continuously less likely to be identified with ASD, suggesting a lack or delay of access to services, diagnosis, and programs. The National African American Community Network (NAAACN) sprouted from this jarring statistic with a mission to empower and support African American families afflicted with ASD. NAAACN was founded to give families and caretakers the appropriate resources and services to understand and navigate autism while simultaneously building partnerships within the community to spread awareness about autism. The NAAACN continues to inspire and instill hope through their dedication to serving as the bridge between African American families and developmental disability resources, services, and support.

Through advancements medical knowledge, enactments of policy, and dedication to the betterment of children’s lives, African American leaders have transformed the lives of African American and minority children. Today, tomorrow, and every day we celebrate the lives of African Americans who have made monumental strides in improving the livelihood of children with special needs.

About the Author: Esther Assenso is a woman on a mission to become a physician while simultaneously encouraging people and diversifying spaces along the way. Connect with Esther through LinkedIn, and be on the lookout for her upcoming podcast, Espiring in Medicine.

Sources:

https://www.biography.com/political-figure/ben-carson

https://achievement.org/achiever/benjamin-s-carson/

https://nurse.org/articles/black-history-month-nursing-leaders/

https://www.nursing.virginia.edu/news/flashback-harriet-tubman-nurse/

http://amistadresearchcenter.tulane.edu/archon/?p=creators/creator&id=402

https://www.onlinecollege.org/50-african-americans-who-forever-changed-academia/

https://newsone.com/3597076/equally-unsung-10-black-educators-you-should-know/

https://education.asu.edu/inside-the-academy-of-education/honorees/edmund-gordon

https://www.pa.org/monitor/2011/11/head-start

http://www.parentcompanion.org/article/head-start-services-for-children-3-to-5

https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/edelman-marian-wright