Nurturing Partners Workshop
As a lifelong advocate for the disabled community, Ron Taylor brings the deepest empathy to his discussions with his Nurturing Partners Workshop. Using his extensive library of films, he engages participants to learn, grow and take a new perspective of life's disabling challenges. Using scenes from his many films to begin each discussion, he is able to communicate his vision which in turn stimulates discussion, elevates the conversation and creates new relationships as well as enhancing existing ones. Participants will come away empowered.
Father filmmaker Ron Taylor started filming his son Micah in 1984, documenting his living with cerebral palsy. His life long commitment and 500+ hour film library has made it possible to create the Nurturing Partners Workshop for educational purposes. Below are the sessions that take place over Zoom conferencing. Please review the contents of the program and consider booking Ron and Micah.
Father filmmaker Ron Taylor started filming his son Micah in 1984, documenting his living with cerebral palsy. His life long commitment and 500+ hour film library has made it possible to create the Nurturing Partners Workshop for educational purposes. Below are the sessions that take place over Zoom conferencing. Please review the contents of the program and consider booking Ron and Micah.
Introductory Session - Early Perspectives on Micah
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In this introductory sequence, Jonah Bea-Taylor, narrates footage shot of Micah and himself as kids. The narration was done when Jonah was a teenager.
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Brenda Wright became a caregiver for Micah when he was five years old. She accompanied him to school for four years making life easier on his parents and teachers. Her experience working with Micah caused her to alter her career path and become a physical therapist.
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Ben Cousland has been a caregiver for Micah both as a child and now as an adult. In this segment he talks about how Micah's Early teachers made every effort to make certain that Micah was included in all activities.
Session Two, Micah's Education
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Yvonne Meyer, Micah's preschool teacher, speaks about how she became a better observer because of her experiences with Micah. Her experiences with Micah also taught her, "There's no human being who's not able to do anything."
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Jim Heaney, Yvonne's preschool partner, speaks of his experience while assisting Micah climbing a tree and about how, by giving his support, Micah could feel as if he were climbing the tree himself. He emphasizes the importance of keeping quiet so that "he won't miss a clue from Micah."
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Bill Spencer, Micah's Elementary School Teacher talks about when Micah came into his class and says, "Micah was just another kid in the classroom." He talks about how he learned patience and compassion from Micah.
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Mark Sparn, Micah's Elementary School Principal, oversaw an inclusion experiment for kids with disabilities and how successful it became. He wanted their experience to be used as a model. He believes through special education "we become much better person centered educators."
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Vicki Bordinger, Micah's Middle School Teacher, talks of how it was a huge impact for her, about how she was learning alongside Micah. She learned "to make sure that every child was accepted in her classroom."
Session Three - Caregivers and Therapists
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Beth Keith, Micah's Physical Therapist, speaks about how she learned new therapies because of Micah's special needs. She also talks of the reciprocal benefits her practice received and she also states, "It wasn't just therapy, it was friendship."
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Jared Blommel, Micah's caregiver, used his experience with Micah in his personal statement for residency, stating that "learning the daily aspect of compassionate care and getting in touch with that loving kindness, that heart that is in all of us brings purpose and meaning into life."
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Matthew Schotting, Micah's Step Brother, doesn't think it's a big deal to take care of Micah. He and Micah did what young people their age do, "go to the bar and be one of the regular folk." He states, "Even though Micah has disabilities, it doesn't seem to get in the way of him enjoying life."
Session Four - Parent's Perspectives
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Ron Taylor, Micah's Father, speaks about inclusivity when it comes to disabled individuals and the many challenges of a parent of a child with severe disabilities. His perspective gives great clarity to a challenging life, one altered by having a child with disabilites.
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Jude Bea, Micah's Mother, gave up her career in education in order to care for Micah. While she and Ron are no longer married, their commitment to Micah's well being has kept them close for many years. Jude takes care of Micah now along with Ben Cousland, Micah's early childhood caregiver.
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Maureen Keyes, Micah's Step Mother, speaks about how her son Matthew interacted with Micah when he came to live with them. She talks about her getting Micah involved in sporting events at the university where she taught and the benefits for both him and the community.
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Jonah, Micah's brother, gives a more in depth perspective of caring for his brother as an adult rather than his thoughts as a teenager. He covers the life long challenges that parents face when having a child like Micah.
Workshop Video Presentation sponsored by arc Thrift, Colorado
