Micah's Journey

A Time for Celebration

2010-04-18T09:04:00.000-07:00

A Time for Celebration
On Monday my brother will graduate from Oakland University. While I can’t physical be there…I am definitely there in spirit, proud that he’s graduating after having such a profound and significant college experience…full of college classes, microwavable popcorn, packaged oreos, lawsuits and victories, tons of smiles, exams and presentations, and whole lot of community building and community re-imagining.

As I travel and learn about education in another country, I carry Micah’s story with me because I know that inclusion is not just a “U.S.” thing or something that only “certain kids with certain issues” should be exposed to…inclusion is about rethinking success, rethinking testing, rethinking what schooling is all about…and this is something that should be (and in some place is) happening all around the world.

(Below is a blog I wrote for an organization, Special Quest, that advocates for inclusive practices in early-childhood settings. They are doing a series on Micah’s journey and the people who were impacted by this…check it out at: http://specialquest.org/inclusion/category/micahs-story/)

Growing up with my older brother, Micah, was not always easy—I mean how many siblings actually get along with their brother or sister all the time! We sure didn’t. Sometimes I wished he wasn’t my brother. And other times, we had a blast together—playing basketball, debating politics, watching funny movies. Having a brother with the label—intellectual disability—meant that our relationship was also different. At times I was embarrassed that my brother didn’t seem like my other friends’ siblings. Other times, I was worried about what his future would look like and I felt that other siblings didn’t have to worry about these types of issues.

However, Micah’s drive for an inclusive education meant that I grew to love and value Micah for Micah, for who he is. Inclusion became fundamentally important for the me as well as Micah. Inclusion meant that a community was being created around Micah. When I was in first grade, I saw Micah at recess with his peers—laughing and playing. Throughout my middle school experience, I saw Micah involved in peer groups. That meant that on some weekends, he’d leave home for overnight excursions with his friends. In high school, my older brother encouraged me to go to school dances and ultimately, the prom. He knew how important prom was for his high school experience and he wanted me to have that same “good time”. When I went off to college, I told my new college peers that my brother went to college too. I didn’t always have to explain the advocacy side of him; he could also just be my older brother who was studying at the university. Inclusion normalized his disability. The tangible results of inclusion meant that I could see others value Micah, I could see Micah participating in everyday activities, and in turn I could value Micah.

Now a junior at Mount Holyoke College, I am studying the intersection of disability and education issues. When I graduate I will have my teaching certificate in Early-Childhood Education. It is important that I teach in an inclusive classroom—so that the siblings in my classroom will see other individuals with disabilities participating, engaging with their peers, and ultimately being respected. My hope is that, they too, will be able to learn to appreciate their brother or sister with disabilities.

Most recently I helped Micah move into his dorm room. This was a powerful moment for me.

May all siblings of a brother or sister with a disability be able to help their sibling move out of their home into a home that they choose. May they be able to feel mixed emotions of over-protectiveness and excitement. May they be able to talk to each other in a new way because now they both live away from home. May the sibling (without disabilities) who has felt embarrassed, pushed to the side, heard too many phone calls about a meeting for their sibling, ever felt alone, ever felt uncertain about the role they may play in their brother or sister’s future, ever felt frustrated at the way the rest of the world looks at their brother or sister—may they too experience something so great as I did when I helped my so-called “atypical” “retarded” “can’t do anything” “will never speak” “just put him in an institution” … yes, my creative, courageous, witty, powerful, brilliant, intelligent, loving, conscientious, funny, older brother move into a dorm, so he, too, can be once again be just my brother.

here is a article that my sister wrote about helping me move in

2010-03-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

In late August of 2007, my older brother, Micah helped me move into my dorm room at Mount Holyoke College. Fortunately I was able to return the favor to him. On January 4, 2010 I helped Micah move into his dorm room at Oakland University after a two-year legal battle with Oakland University’s administration. Here is what I wrote the night I came home from this historic move-in.
I’m not sure how to feel right now. My eyes continue to swell up with tears and all I want to do is cry out loud. I wonder if this is how the older sibling feels when she finally watches her younger brother go off to college—it is certainly how I feel right now. I have this protective feeling consuming my body—I keep flashing to this image of Micah sitting scared in his room, not knowing what to do to in this unfamiliar place, just lying there hoping the next few months will go by quickly.
As I lie in my bed at home, I turn to the wall that separates my room from Micah’s room. It’s the wall I used to knock on every night before I went to sleep and yell out, “Goodnight Micah! I love you.” And he’d yell back, “Goodnight Emma! I love you.” Sometimes he’d knock first. Right now, I want to knock on the wall right now and hear his voice…to comfort me. I want to hear him say, “Goodnight Emma.”
I’m sure he’s fine. If he’s not…he knows how to ask for help. It’s probably one of his greatest strengths. I wish we all could ask for help and not be afraid. He is not caught up in thinking that he should know it all. He just asks for what he needs…then someone typically helps him…and then his community, his circle, his support becomes even larger.
I’m proud of him. Today, I loved hearing all of his friends and peers say, “Hey Micah! Welcome to the dorm.” It’s such a reassuring feeling for me, as a sibling—to see others respect Micah in the way I always imagine “typical” respect looks like.
I’m feeling all sorts of things. I’m proud and worried, happy and unsettled, emotional and confused, wondering constantly and smiling often. I picture him getting up tomorrow—excited he could sleep in until 9 a.m. instead of waking up at 6 to take a two long bus rides to get to campus. I can see him doing his morning routine more carefully because now, now he’s in a dorm room—the dorm room he spent 2 years fighting to live in. I think he’ll brush his teeth extra long tomorrow (assuming he can find his toothpaste). I know he won’t stop smiling. Maybe he’ll make his bed and then decide what to wear. He might call our mom—tell her what he did in morning and how he slept. He’ll like taking to mom and I know she’ll smile when she hears his satisfied voice.
May all siblings of a brother or sister with a disability be able to help their sibling move out of their home into a home that they choose. May they be able to feel mixed emotions of over-protectiveness and excitement. May they be able to talk to each other in a new way because now they both live away from home. May the sibling (without disabilities) who has felt embarrassed, pushed to the side, heard too many phone calls about a meeting for their sibling, ever felt alone, ever felt uncertain about the role they may play in their brother or sister’s future, ever felt frustrated at the way the rest of the world looks at their brother or sister—may they too experience something so great as I did when I helped my so-called “atypical” “retarded” “can’t do anything” “will never speak” “just put him in an institution” … yes, my creative, courageous, witty, powerful, brilliant, intelligent, loving, conscientious, funny, older brother move into a dorm, so he, too, can be once again be just my brother.

this is my weekly update

2010-03-28T09:15:00.001-07:00

I'm looking forward this week to be speaking at Wayne State on Tuesday
speaking in a class on Wednesday through
a friend asked me to come and speak from my computer he's teaching a class in Colorado Skype
Friday I am going out to dinner with some of my friends
next Sunday and celebrating Easter with my family
voting the student body president and vice president of the next year school year
Oakland University don't forget to vote for the student body president and vice president this week coming

I have loved being a student at Oakland University

2010-03-27T13:46:00.001-07:00

I have loved being a student at Oakland University and going to enjoy every second of every day before I have to leave an April 27 the Oakland University I don't want to leave yet it has been a great campus great faculty great administration great friends and great people and greed student leaders in the student Congress

I have loved being a student at Oakland University

2010-03-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

And so happy that my Oakland University basketball

2010-03-07T08:01:00.000-08:00

And so happy that my Oakland University basketball team won on SaturdayI'm looking forward to the next basketball game on Monday

Through the Same Door

2010-02-19T15:35:00.000-08:00

Check out this series of blogs on my journey for inclusive education. A new blog entry will come out each week on this site:
Through the Same Door

Peak Conference and had a great time at the conference

2010-02-19T10:32:00.000-08:00

I am having a great time at school I still miss all my friends from Colorado to I am hoping to go there this summer
Peak Conference and had a great time at the conference
I met some amazing people
from the conference
I'm hoping to go to the conference next year
Peak is a great organization to help people
this is a great organization
it helps parents know that there are things out there to help the kids that have disabilitie
that's why it's a great organization
Micah

This is my schedule for my spring break

2010-02-19T10:31:00.000-08:00

This is my schedule for my spring break
I'm coming home this afternoon
doing laundry
taking naps
relaxing
seeing friends
going to the doctor
doing some homework
I have some conference calls
and I'm going to check my e-mail over brea

I get to watch the president give his speech to the nation

2010-01-27T17:51:00.001-08:00

I get to watch the president give his speech to the nation and to the country tonight from my room and campus
I been having an amazing week this week
Friday I don't have class and going to see a movie with a friend
and go to the gym

I am so happy that I can watch cable TV in my room

2010-01-25T20:38:00.000-08:00

I am so happy that I can watch cable TV in my room I am so happy that I can sleep in every day don't have to week up at 6:30 a.m. and take a bus to school every dayso happy I am living on campusI went to a party at school tonight for the Chinese new year so happy that next week is home coming for Oakland University in February 4 to February 7

wouldn't change this for the world

2010-01-24T21:11:00.000-08:00

I am trying to have the best time at Oakland University of every dayand every second until I graduate in MayI'm having the best time of my life at Oakland University has been thebest five years of this time of this semesterbecause I am living on the campusI wouldn't change this for the world I hope that other people can live in the dorms like me next fall

My first couple weeks of living in the dorm

2010-01-23T12:44:00.000-08:00

My first couple weeks of living in the dorm
I can do more living in housing on campus
I can go to the gym, I can take a cycling class every Friday
I am having an exciting time of living on campus
I don't have to wake up early and take a bus to school
I can watch cable TV
I can help more people out at the activities
I like all my classes I have been taking at school this semester
I hope the other students that after I graduate can have the same opportunities and live in the dorm like I did
I have new friends I have from this semester
if anyone wants to ever come up and visit me I would be happy to show you around
I found someone to help me with my senior project for my last project of Oakland University
just let me know
Micah

hi friends

2010-01-06T19:41:00.000-08:00

hi friends
thank you to all my friends that helped me move in to housing and Oakland University campus on Monday
I have been having amazing two days of living on my own and living independently
administration doesn't see me as a students still all my friends and all the faculty sees me as a student
I'm very happy to have housing at Oakland University
here is my address to send me
Micah
404 East Vandenberg Hall
Oakland University
2200 North Squirrel Rd
Rochester, MI 48309-4401

Micah's Move In Day (65 photos), by Emma Fialka-Feldman

2010-01-04T19:33:00.001-08:00

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

CNN's Most Intriguing People of the Day

2009-12-30T09:47:00.000-08:00

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/12/30/mip.wednesday/index.html

I'm On NPR

2009-12-29T05:53:00.000-08:00

From: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121998657 (download the podcast to listen)

Intellectually Disabled Students Wins Dorm Suit
by Joseph Shapiro
December 29, 2009

Like many kids with intellectual disabilities these days, Micah Fialka-Feldman went to his neighborhood high school in Michigan and graduated. Then he wanted to try college. Nearby Oakland University is one of many schools and community colleges that are setting up programs for students with intellectual disabilities. But it wouldn't let Fialka-Feldman live on campus so he sued, and a judge has ruled that he was discriminated against.

I'm Moving In!

2009-12-28T19:10:00.000-08:00

The Federal Judge ruled that I can move into the dorm in January 2010. His decision clearly stated that I would be a positive asset to the university. It was the affidavits by my peers and my professors at Oakland University who made it clear that I would continue to be a great OU student and that I should have the right to the full college experience. Even though the case has taken more than two years, I am extremely happy with the decision. I am extremely pleased that the court said that "I am a student" and recognized my educational efforts. I look forward to living in the dorm.

Oakland University has been a pioneer in providing post-secondary educational opportunities to persons with intellectual disabilities, I hope they will continue to do so. This decision is just one step in the process and I hope Oakland recognizes the value at being a leader in post-secondary inclusive opportunities (check out www.Thinkcollege.net).

I really look forward to having people call me, 248-376-6556 and to reading/listening to their comments on my blog (http://throughthesamedoor.blogspot.com/) and on facebook. You can check out the articles in the Detroit News by Marisa Schultz
(http://www.detnews.com/article/20091228/METRO/912280389/1408/local/Learning-disabled-Oakland-student-wins-fight-over-dorm-room), Oakland Press by Jerry Wolffe, and NPR, Morning Edition with Joseph Shapiro.

I have learned that it is hard to fight battles for justice and inclusion. I also learned that when we create community we can change the world. This struggle will help many other people in colleges across the country. I hope that other students with disabilities continue to dream big and fight for what they believe in.

I could never have done this without the love of my family, the support of friends and as well as my great lawyer Chris Davis from Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service.

Check out my website: www.throughthesamedoor.com

I'm going to Florida tomorrow

2009-12-23T06:57:00.000-08:00

I am so happy of all the friends that will on my wall and the friends I have talked to on the phone
I'm going to Florida tomorrow
I'll be there to December 31
stay tuned to my blog

December 21, 2009 update

2009-12-21T20:21:00.000-08:00

December 21, 2009 update
Here's my update on my December 17 hearing.
I've been fighting for justice and my right to live in the dorm since 2007. It’s been two years so I happy I made it this far and I'll keep going until it's all over.
Thursday was a great day. I had friends come to the hearing. I had friends come from Baltimore and from Canada. Professors from Oakland University and University of Michigan joined with friends of mine from school and from the community. My Uncle John and grand parents also attended.
Both sides made their arguments.
Chris did a great job. He is my lawyer from MPAS.
The Oakland University administration is still not calling me a student.
We are waiting for the judge to decide what happens next. He took it under advisement.
I'm hoping the judge decides to support my dream and my right so I can go and live in the Oakland University housing in 2010
I hope everyone has a great holiday. Stay tuned to the e-mails. When I have any breaking news I will send out an update.
Micah, December 21, 2009

My plans for Monday

2009-12-21T12:05:00.000-08:00

these are my plans for tomorrow Monday going out to lunch with my friends from college that graduated from Oakland University she is from Canada and going to talk to her tomorrow night I am so happy about that she came to my hearing she'll write a great article for me it's about my housing case she is a great new friend to me her name is Erin

My Saturday update I'm still waiting on the judge to decide what happens next

2009-12-19T10:34:00.000-08:00

I am understanding how people had to fight for their rights and civil rights is sometimes takes a long time but I have made it this far I'm so happy of the many people across the country that are supporting me it is not done yet when you is all done and going to take the train on my own to Canada or somewhere I am so happy that I made it this far in my my dorm housing case thank you for everyone from Canada to Baltimore from all across the country on who is supporting me

2009-12-17T19:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2009/12/17/news/cops_and_courts/doc4b2a05512e2c7987544522.txt

Micah's Journey

A Time for Celebration

here is a article that my sister wrote about helping me move in

this is my weekly update

I have loved being a student at Oakland University

I have loved being a student at Oakland University

And so happy that my Oakland University basketball

Through the Same Door

Peak Conference and had a great time at the conference

This is my schedule for my spring break

I get to watch the president give his speech to the nation

I am so happy that I can watch cable TV in my room

wouldn't change this for the world

My first couple weeks of living in the dorm

hi friends

Micah's Move In Day (65 photos), by Emma Fialka-Feldman

CNN's Most Intriguing People of the Day

More New Articles

I'm On NPR

I'm Moving In!

I'm going to Florida tomorrow

December 21, 2009 update

My plans for Monday

My Saturday update I'm still waiting on the judge to decide what happens next