Got to listen to this in the background while at work. Really great bit on how the expectations we put on our kids, or on ppl with (perceived) "disabilities", are in fact FORMATIVE. I was AMAZED that this man's VISUAL cortex of his brain actually transmitted VISUAL evidences because of how he was using his "clicks" and ears and bat-like senses to "see" his way around .. and it fired up otherwise "dark" parts of his brain in ways that thoroughly surprised the conventional expectations of neurological science!
This was profound to me for a number of reasons, not least of which are:
a) I have personally learned that our brains CAN form NEW neurological pathways even in adulthood to "compensate" for other limitations .. I have sensory integration dysfunction, had (among other things) skipped the "crawling" stage in infancy, and found that even in my 30's, exercising in ways that forced me to "criss-cross" my arms and legs IMPROVED my overall coordination. And
b) I have done enough studies on DID or structural DID to learn that even though "dissociation" occurs very "naturally" for people who grew up with childhood trauma, as an adult, they CAN "learn" in such a way as to create connection and so overcome this tendency (even if nominally) so that the seemingly disconnected neurological formation can in fact be retrained for better internal communication. I don't feel I am phrasing this well, but it seems like a very similar reality. And
c) as my man and I are currently having huge talks through the possibility of having children, how we would want to manage our household/raise our kids, etc. I know my weakness is to be like one of these moms who wants to "rescue" her child from the struggle, without fully appreciating how the very "struggle" itself is what helps them OVERCOME. Well-intentioned, as with the moms represented in this radio-documentary, trying to keep my blind child from running out in front of a car. But in fact, "expecting" that this is just something they can't ever do for themselves, becoming that very "protective" influence that keeps them from achieving success on their own. And making them more dependent on others .. arguably causing them MORE "struggle" as a result? :) :( :oops:
Powerful listen, thanks for sharing! :tup:
~S2B
