Today is the birthday of the late Barbara Dee Bateman. Barb was born on this day in 1933. Barb, as many special educators know, had extraordinary influences on special education from the 1960s through the 2000-teens.

Thanks to Barb’s sister, Jan, (her last surviving immediate family member), I have this photo of Barb as a young girl. Barb is holding Jan on the porch of their Oregon home. I find it delightful.

Please understand two points about this photo: (1) I use it with permission from Jan Bateman and (b) Jan implored me to explain that Jan was not the reason that Barb went into special education.

But there are other points, too. Look at the joy in Barb’s face. Think about the experience of the photographer (probably one of Barb’s, Denny’s, and Jan’s parents?) taking and then later looking at that photo.

These are among the things that make we special educators caring, humans. I propose that we celebrate them.