What would you do? How many people would you work with (if any)? And any more details you care to fill in...

-- Ann Monroe (monroe@chorus.net), May 09, 2000

Answers

I would be an inclusion specialist. I would put all my preschoolers with autism in regular education classrooms with aids and supports. I would have a behavioral psycology program/token system set up for most of them because most have behavioral issues. I would also be eclectic, adding in a little sensory integration if they have sensitivity to light, sound, touch, etc. The sensory integration therapists and the behavioral psycologists would not hate each other, and would work together for everyone's benefit. (Make-believe here, there's no such thing). These schools would have magical administrators who care more about a child's education than about hiding special education money (again, this is fantasy). Regular education teachers and special education teachers would work together, and see all the kids as "their" kids (this is really pushing it). People would not not be defined by their disabilities, but by their abilities, and by the supports they need to succeed. Right now, this is fantasy, but I hope it will happen someday. Someday I hope I can take my kids out to the store and have all the people around me enlightened enough not to back away, or lead their children away. It's time to stop hiding kids away in special classes and educate ourselves.

-- AJ (joijoijoi@hotmail.com), May 10, 2000.

I'm one of the lucky few to have actually worked in a personal dream job. For years I was a writer/producer for planetariums, one in Omaha, another in Rochester, NY, and the third here in Portland, OR. As I say on the relevant page of my Web site (http://www.sff.net/people/MBourne/Planetarium.htm), I've been fortunate in being able to enjoy a career that blends many of my passions -- writing, astronomy, education, theater, and show production, with the planetarium dome being an unsung creative medium, an active canvas that integrates creativity, media technology, special effects, theater, science, imagination, art, photography, dramatic storytelling, music... plus a certain sense of wonder that comes from discovering how way cool the Universe really is.

The bad news is that the planetarium field is a highly vertical market, and science centers tend to be non-profit institutions vulnerable to all kinds of financial problems, from budgets cuts to malfeasance. Such was the case at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, where both budget problems and executive chicanery led to the lay-off of 1/3 of the staff -- including the Planetarium Writer/Producer, which represents a very expensive departmental resource, what with production costs and all. (If you have the Esther Friesner-edited fantasy anthology, CHICKS IN CHAINMAIL, you have my creative blowing-off-steam revenge, with names only slightly changed to protect the hellbound.) Sure, I could have moved elsewhere to another major planetarium (I was in the final running for a position in Honolulu, for instance), but by that time I was too much in love with Portland and Elizabeth, who owned her own company here, so I chose to sacrifice the career for other important matters. I've kept my hand in whenever possible, though, including being hired to script a show for the Boston Museum of Science.

Nowadays my "day job" sees me being the Senior Writer/Editor for a cool and prosperous Internet company. Although I no longer manipulate planets and stars on a daily basis, the change has brought its own rewards while I continue my astronomical and other writing pursuits in other ways. (The pay is much better here, that's for sure.) Still, I have yet to find a career that I was better suited for or that was better suited to me. So my dream job would be to return to a major planetarium, preferably one located on a university campus, with a budget that allows me the creative and intellectual freedom that has served me so well and a salary that won't have me wistfully remembering my days outside the star-festooned dome.

-- Mark (mbourne@sff.net), May 10, 2000.

Spiritual Healer/Teacher

-- Ms. Enigmatic (enigma@chorus.net), May 11, 2000.