Difference between Humans and Animals

 
WHAT is the DIFFERENCE?

     For the long time I was looking for the answer to that question asking educated open-minded people of different professions. Their answers were different and none of it fit my goal And finally I found it
"The main impact of the image is that God endues man with some of his divine attributes, thereby separating and making him different from the animals. What are some special Godlike qualities which man is permitted to share? They are- language, creativity, love, holiness, immortality and freedom.  All can be summed up by saying that man, like God, has an intelligence, a MIND and ABILITY DEVELOPING it ."

That was exactly what fits my working experience-Ability for DEVELOPING it"
I spent many years working with kids with very low intelligent and their life was not much different from life of animals function on body instincts. Some of my bosses openly talked about that and some parents as well treating those kids as beloved pets giving them favorite treats, cuddling and playing with their bodies. It was not easy to convince them to change their attitude. So we either go human way where with outside help of adult such children start to get developed and show those qualities-the qualities, which only human beings possess or going animal ways using the medication to kill the ability of the mind for development.

 I have a pleasure to work with two boys and that story  support the statement above.

JACK

      Jack-mentally retarded non-verbal boy with CP and Bipolar disorder was always sad and cried often.  There was no any sign of communication with outside world. He communicated only with a ball pushing it around all day long. When we started to work with him In a while, the situation totally changed. With me entering the residence, Jack used to go straight to me verbalizing by sounds his complains. Then he usually grabbed my hand, took me to elevator and then to his room and there he was laughing happily and victoriously. My co-workers wondered, “Why he talks to you and doesn't talk to us?” I replied, “Because I give him intellectual stimulation”. While others continued give Jack a ball- for us, a ball was far away past. We did many different activities with Jack, but reading became his favorite.
However, not simple reading. During that process Jack revealed many new qualities which otherwise could be never revealed if he would continue pushing the ball all day long or sitting in front of video.
First, he learned to use his hands and started to turn pages, to open and close  books. He learned to make his own choices and show the preferences. We create a simple system, which Jack invented himself. If he wanted me to read a book he'd  turn pages-if not,then he would close the book up. Also Jack revealed surprising creative abilities. He knew which book he wanted me to read and how many times. He listened books attentively and laughed over funny places. I went along with his wishes but offering him new and new books and his taste started to change and develop. We went through baby books about Elmo to books about Isaac Newton and other famous people. Then he fell in love with a book about famous woman artist Georgia O’Keeffe and made me to read it repeatedly. Then he invented a game when he let me read a few sentences of a book and then I had to read a few sentences from another book. Jack was very happy and proud of himself with that idea.
Being so possessive and insisting on his way however, Jack did not mind a compromise.It was not difficult for me to negotiate with him. Sometimes if he wanted something, but I did not go along with his wish-he made himself offended turning his body to the wall.
If he did not like some new book and started to protest, I used to tell him that I do like it myself and wanted to continue. If he continued to protest loudly, I would start reading it to myself.  Then eventually he would give in and listened the book recognizing my rights

NAT

Before I started to work with Nat, he spend most of his time on staff laps playing with staff hair or lying in position of embryo sucking his own finger while staff was playing with their cell phones Although by professional opinion, it does not make sense to teach autistic children to talk after eight years as it consider hopeless, Nat started to talk at 13…but it was not The Event. I tried to learn details how it happened as for me it was The Big Event, but nobody cooperated.  Our agency psychologist does not encourage the staff to promote speech. He considered speech as kind of fun for a child and didn’t want us to do something which could deprive a child that fun like using it as means of communication ”If you want a cookie-you should ask for it”. I did those things secretly encouraging Nat to talk. In his меdical chart autism is not mention at all, but his behavior was very much autistic and when he started to talk, echolalia was developed. The fact of Nat started to talk at 13 did not change anything in his life.

NAT JOINING the CLUB

Although Nat was quiet calm boy, his talking was very funny because he had bossy intonation, giving orders to others "Put away! no more! finish !"
When he joined our “Reading Club” Jack started to demonstrate new qualities.  The rules changed and Jack easily went along with them. His possessiveness disappeared and if I wanted to read an old book, which he did not like, but I would say, “I’d like Nat to hear it” Jack easily agreed. When I read books it is an active process-the listeners actively participate by different ways-making choices, turning pages, taking turns. By reading a book “Who said red?” the book about different colors which they both liked  Nat’s responsibility was to say “I sad red!” As most autistic kids Nat functions by his own way-he needs his time for doing things-so we were waiting with Jack and Jack was very patient and he was smiling with understanding while I encouraged Nat “Come on Nat! Enough to think! Say it already. We are waiting with Jack. Say it!” Finally, we would hear him saying that. Jack looked happy He also laughed when Nat gave his orders “Pinish! Put away (books)!” They treated each other very nicely with humor and respect to each other difficulties. One was patiently waiting if another one had to come later. We had great time and could solve any problems, which arose in a process.

Lack of speech did not bring any difficulty in understanding. On contrary, it created better understanding to each other.
From my experience, working with non- verbal kids I am sure that, every one of them has an inner speech inside no matter how it presents outside. It can show by body language, tone of sounds or face impression. If a person communicating with them show understanding it makes kids very happy and they starts to develop it.  Communication becomes rich, more understanding.
I have to add here that very often two people on the same level of development and with no speech problems communicate to each other and  understanding completely missing there and speech is not helpful.