My daughter's been talking about this boy in some of her classes since the start of the school year.

His name is Nick. Nick has cerebral palsy.  He's in a mototized wheelchair and has an assistant to help him out during the day.  He's in regular classes, but he has a hard time writing so someone comes with him to take notes for him.

Shea really likes Nick.  She sits with him at lunch when their schedules allow, and hangs out with him between classes.  They do really well together...she thinks he's funny and he thinks she's smart. She's asked him about his condition and has come home and asked me questions about it as well, so she's pretty informed about why he is the way he is.

Shea came home today and said that she got into it with some kid at lunchtime.  I asked why....it's not like her to get into it with kids.

Nick apparently has a hard time verbalizing, and occasionally drools.  Shea had overheard some kid making fun of him, and she had gone over and told him that making fun of a disabled person is the lowest for of humor and that he should be ashamed of himself.

I was so proud of her!  She said that she's not going to sit around and let anyone make fun of Nick, that it's not fair because he can't help the way he is.  "I'm sure if he could choose he wouldn't be in a chair, Mom" she said "but he is, and that's the way things are and I'm not going to any morons make fun of him - THEY'RE the retards, not Nick".

That's my girl!