I know for a fact that I was more excited about going to see "Finding Dory" than the children in the theater, but hey… that’s what happens when you’re a 5-year-old at heart. I’ve seen it once already and while planning my second time going all I can think about is how it relates to special education.
Dory
The main character in the movie, why else would they call it "Finding Dory?" Anyway, Dory is a blue tang fish who suffers from memory loss. If you’re like me, you’ve seen "Finding Nemo" countless times and know that the only thing Dory could help Marlin, Nemo’s dad, remember was “P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney.”
Dory’s memory loss problem is a common occurrence in special education. Memory and recall can be hard for a lot of kids and especially students who have a disability or may be developmentally delayed. Dory is relatable to these kids! Maybe, just maybe, one day all of the pieces will click together for these students and they can recall a past memory or “P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney.”
Hank
Now, if you have yet to see "Finding Dory," there are a few new characters in the ocean with Dory, Marlin, and Nemo, but this one in particular has a big role in the movie: Hank. Hank is an octopus, actually a septopus (he has seven tentacles instead of eight). Not to give away any part of the movie, but Hank seems to have some severe anxiety because he’s trying to get somewhere and Dory is slowing him down, which causes him to freak out…multiple times.
Anxiety is a major factor in special education for some students with disabilities. They worry what’s coming next, and if you change the schedule without warning, you better be prepared to hold on.
Destiny
Another new character to the ocean adventures with Dory is Destiny. She’s a beautiful whale shark who is afraid of her swimming, because she does not see well.
As soon as the story unfolded and I learned more about Destiny in the movie, I immediately thought of vision impairments. Many students in special education and outside of special education suffer from vision impairments that they may need accommodations for. Let’s be real, I have a vision impairment and I have to wear glasses to do anything, but that’s an easy fix and accommodation to make. As for Destiny, you better go buy your tickets to "Finding Dory" to see how she fights her fears!
Mr. Ray
Then there is Mr. Ray, Nemo’s teacher, who I am sure has students in his fish school that require an IEP, specific accommodations and modifications. Part of being a teacher of students at any ability level is to be able to make those accommodations and modifications necessary to help your students grow and learn.
One day, I’ll have my own fish school of kiddos just like Mr. Ray to make the appropriate accommodations for and help them all learn, and love them through the process.
