Teaching T’ai Chi Chih to Special Needs Students

After receiving my TCC accreditation in 1997 I asked my supervisor if I could offer a class where I work. I work in education in the area of special education. Our intermediate unit provides services to local school districts. Some of the services include psychologists, teachers for learning support, blind, neuriologically impaired and more, teacher assistants, and of course administrative staff which includes supervisors and secretaries. I work in the life skills support program. The students I teach have severe learning problems. I help them develop basic academic, social, and employment skills.

Getting back to my supervisor. He was not sure what TCC was but when I mentioned stress reduction he said sounds great. I filled out the necessary papers and submitted them. A week before I was to teach I called to see if anyone actually signed up. The class was being offered to support staff – secretaries and teacher assistants. The registrar starting laughing and said we have 60 people signed up could you do two classes. I was shocked. I suggested three classes. By the time the year was over I had 70 plus students. Unfortunately this class, which was enthusiastically attended met a brick wall before it even began.

The powers that be – the top administrative staff – did not see how this class was going to help people in the classroom. They were afraid that others would offer speed walking, etc. It did not fit into the “mold” of what the typical course should include. Sign language is acceptable, so is word processing, using the internet, discussing ways to relax, etc. I decided to back off for a while.

After attending my second teacher’s conference in Minnesota [in 1999] I decided to try a different approach. I asked and received permission to teach my students as part of my health curriculum. We practice two times a week. I found the front of the auditorium the perfect space – quiet, carpeted, etc. As of this writing we are learning Pulling Taffy. I must admit I was a bit apprehensive about teaching TCC to my students and am very proud of how far we have come. Even Pulling Taffy is looking better and better. I am learning a whole new approach to teaching.

I am now going to approach the administrative staff and request that I teach an in-service next year on what I am doing in the classroom with TCC. I think I will ask some of my students to assist me. (I even have one set of parents taking an evening course at a local health club.) Maybe someone will see how TCC can help people in the classroom.

The picture shows us doing Around the Platter. The TCC class is made up of seven of the 16 students I have.