AMFAS salutes those making a difference on World Teachers’ Day

Today is World Teachers’ Day. While the day is a general recognition of the great teachers who have changed lives, it also needs to serve as kudos for all the teachers who have made a difference for our family members with autism spectrum disorder.

Think for a moment of all the people in your child’s life who have gone the extra mile for them. What teacher, or teachers, do you appreciate, and why?

Would you consider your ABA therapist a teacher? How about the speech therapist, special education team lead, or other person who works directly with your child? In a special education environment, even an aide can act in the form of a teacher, providing vital feedback and encouragement to the student.

Today is a great chance to reflect on those who have served in a teaching capacity and made a difference.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan provided the following statement on World Teachers’ Day:

World Teachers’ Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of teachers across the globe. Education is recognized worldwide as the most important driver of economic growth and social change, and teachers are the ones leading the way.

Teachers empower students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the 21st century. They connect them to people, languages, and experiences beyond their home borders. Recognizing the invaluable contributions and expertise of educators across America and around the world, our Department has gathered teachers from coast to coast and worldwide to share effective methods that encourage labor management collaboration and elevate the teaching profession. Their work has inspired our most recent initiative to transform the teaching profession, which we call the RESPECT Project.

In meeting with thousands of teachers, I am continually inspired by their vision and enthusiasm for what we can do to make the world’s most important profession also its most respected one. Education is essential to eliminating gender inequality, reducing poverty, creating a sustainable planet and fostering peace. In the knowledge economy, education is the new currency by which nations maintain economic competitiveness and global prosperity. On World Teachers’ Day we recognize that our great teachers make these goals possible.