Special Needs In Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men And Modern Society

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For centuries, the special needs community has been unable to get the accommodations needed for them to be proficient members of their communities. Mainly, this stems from a lack of knowledge of the brains and needs of people with special needs. This reality is showcased in the Steinbacks novel, Of Mice and Men, and Modern Society. During the 20th century, the special needs community struggled greatly. Having mental disabilities made life complicated for many families; the lack of resources and knowledge about special needs made it virtually impossible to get adequate accommodations. In 1933, the Council for the Retarded Child was founded to aid children who had been excluded from mainstream schooling. Many people believe sending their children …show more content…

Since George talked to Lennie, many people thought George was taking advantage of him. Even George and Lennie’s boss asked “...what stake did you get in this guy? You takin’ his pay away from him?” (Steinback 22). He assumed George was taking Lennie’s pay because he could see that Lennie was unperceptive. In addition to everything else in the world, the special needs community evolves alongside society’s ideals. Therefore, in order for the special needs community to get the accommodations they need to be proficient members of society and the economy, society needs to grow as a whole. This growth starts with how the public views the special needs community. Many people only think of children when the topic of neurodivergency is touched on. However, many adults live with autism– and some don't even know it! Peter Mann is the CEO & Founder of Oransi, an air purification company. After most of his success, he was diagnosed with autism and believes that it has benefited him in his work. Now, he and his company “are trying to change society’s understanding and highlight that neurodiversity is a competitive advantage,” (Mann). Similarly, many public spaces are working to be more inclusive. For example, a library in Louisville has created a space for neurodivergent people. “Motor coordination, concentration, color recognition, understanding cause and effect—these are some of the skills Louisville Public Library hopes to amplify in the children and adults with special needs who use its new Sensory Space” (Damon). Even though we now have these people advocating for them, many special needs students still get bullied in mainstream schools. This is why people like Mann are trying to change the way people see others with differences. As a society,