The next two pieces are by Glorivee Cintron and Greg Creary, who were part of a Career Education Center service learning project at United Cerebral Palsy . Although they worked with children their insights have much in common with the previous writers and add another dimension to how being a volunteer can change ideas.

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   It is a shame how so many things are happening in our society and we never take the time to recognize these special children. I guess no one realizes it until it happens to them.
   I've always wondered - what if I had a child and it turned out that the child is disabled or mentally ill. What would I do? Well today I found my answer. "I would love that child just as any other child."
   Today I had the opportunity to work with seven special children and when I walked into that room I looked these children in their eyes and I said, "There ain't nothing wrong with these children, but it hurt me to know that something is really wrong with them.
   There was this one child who I fell in love with. When I think about it I smile. I only wish I could do much more for all these children. But, I know that if I keep on working with them they will become a part of me. It will make me feel good that I can work and help them in any way. I want to get to know them and I want them to get to know me. I want them to learn from me just as I can learn from them.
   I felt so good that I could do something for these children. I've only been there one day and I already love them all. It makes me feel like I am a mother already.

   How would you describe the writer's attitude before she worked with disabled children? What did she write to show that her perception of disability changed as a result of her service learning experience? Do you think her new insights may affect the way she will relate to her own children? Will these new insights help her when she meets people with disabilities in her community?

   Today at the daycare center was different from other days. I feel more comfortable there now that I know the kids and they know me. Keith shows more improvement trying to talk for the first time than I've ever seen, listening to music, dancing, and singing. The teachers made songs up for the kids to sing. I like that.
   When I first walked into the classroom today, I felt at home for the first time. All of the kids turned around and shouted my name: "Greg." When it was time to leave I wasn't ready to leave. I wanted to spend some more time with Guawi, Victoria, Lennie and Nadine.
   When I had to leave we were singing and dancing. A lady was playing the piano and the children were singing, dancing and clapping. They were celebrating St. Patrick's day. They were singing about leprechauns. Leprechauns are little men who make a lot of mischief and who live in Ireland. They remind me of Anancy, an animal who creates a lot of mischief, too. Anancy lives in Jamaica where I was born.
   All the kids wanted to play with me at the same time. Quawi and I were building a high rise building out of cardboard bricks. Then Lennie wanted to play ball with me. I was confused and I started to play ball with the both of them.
   I'm hoping to have time for each and every one of the kids when I return to the daycare center. I'm looking forward to different activities when I go each time. So far, today was my favorite time because it was different. This time they gave me a copy of the songs we heard. Only the teachers and I got these. This made me feel more open and comfortable.

   What about made the writer feel at home in his assignment?
   How does what Greg wrote relate to the following poem?

A lot of it's intention.
You're not just offering
a warm blanket, fruit juice,
a glass of water.
You're declaring your
intention to help them.
You're letting them know
that you're concerned.
That's all that some
of them really need.
Some need a lot more--
more than they can get
in this world.
There's really just
so much you can give
but they need to know
you're offering it.
Sometimes it's enough.
Sometimes it's a lot
more than they expect.
And you offer it with
the very best intentions,
anticipating perhaps
the day when you'll be
lying there,
half in one world,
half in the other,
longing for a hand to
reach out to you
from either side.

Emergency Room, 1995, Austin, Texas.