In Week 5, you selected one of the Scholars of Change videos to begin the coding process. For this Discussion, you will select another Scho

Scholar of Change – Benjamin Isaac

Scholar of Change – Benjamin Isaac Program Transcript

BENJAMIN ISAAC: My  name is  Benjamin Isaac  and I'm currently  a Walden University  student pursuing a doctorate degree in the field of special education. Research shows  that students  with special learning needs  who feel good about themselves  perform  better  academically  than those with low self-­concept. A   Google search for  the definition of the word special reveals  an adjective that means  better, greater, or  otherwise different from  what is  usual. But far  too often, students  deemed special are made to feel like they  are inadequate, subpar, and unintelligent. That's why  I am  attempting to effect social change with the help of a few very  special friends  of mine. I'd like to introduce you to Skeeter  Buzz, and Gigi.

SKEETER: Hi.

BUZZ: Hi.

GIGI: Hello.

BENJAMIN ISAAC: These three characters  were initially  created for  an educational children's cartoon that features  live child actors  mixed with 3D animation. As  the characters  began to develop, however, I had an epiphany. I wondered what would happen if I gave all three characters  special needs. And what if these special needs  were depicted as  merely  mental and physical conditions  and not definitive characteristics  of who these characters  were. As  a result, Skeeter  was  developed as  a character  with autism. Buzz, the rapping fly, was  further  developed as  a character  with attention deficit hyperactivity  disorder, or  ADHD. And Gigi was  modeled after  my own daughter, who has  cerebral palsy.

To add authenticity  to each character, I decided to have each character  voiced by  a child that had that same condition. As  a result, Skeeter, the DJ, was  voiced by  Ian and Connor, two children with autism. Buzz  was  voiced by  my son Truth, and Gigi was  voiced by  my daughter, Kennedy.

The purpose of the show was  not to elicit sympathy  from  the masses, but to show children with special needs  in a very  normal light. As  a result, the special needs  will more than likely  only  be mentioned in the opening credits. After  that the children will merely  be who they  are.

The education I am  receiving from  Walden University  will serve to provide research-­based teaching strategies  and information about students  with special learning needs  that will be incorporated into the show's production and shared with the viewers. Through this  show, I intend to leverage the power  of teaching in technology  and effect positive social change through education. It is  my hope that the characters  will serve to inspire, influence, and impact all children with special needs. But beyond that it is  my goal to show the world that students  with

©2016 Laureate  Education, Inc. 1

Scholar of Change – Benjamin Isaac

special needs  are just that, special, blessed with differences  that force them  to interact with the world differently  because they  view it from  a different perspective.

Walden University  has  helped me develop this  show into an entertaining piece of media with the potential to educate the world about the true nature of children with special needs. We thank  you for  your  time and consideration.

ALL: Goodbye.

©2016 Laureate  Education, Inc. 2