My father was a kindhearted, generous, patient and loving person. He was also extremely intelligent, and although both his parents had died before he became an adult, he attended college on a basketball scholarship and graduated in 1928.

He went on to marry, father six children and start a small paint manufacturing company and store. He was determined that his children would all have college educations, so he worked two jobs to make that dream possible. He always took time to play basketball, golf and baseball with us as well as teaching us to draw and enjoy art. Although one of his jobs was as a mail carrier who spent all day Saturday walking his route, we would spend Sunday afternoons hiking and exploring.

Most of all he made sure that each of his children knew how unique and special they were.

These should be the dominant memories of my youth, but what I do remember is that my dad had a speech impediment and that people treated him according to their perception of him when they first met him. I remember people not taking the time to listen and understand what he was saying. I remember people talking to this extremely intelligent man as if he were a child.

I was frustrated that people did not take the time to know him, as I knew him, as someone who had so much to give. This was painful to me as a child and young person, especially because I perceived that it was painful for him.

My dad taught me so much, but perhaps his greatest lesson was to help me understand that we must not judge a person by our prejudices and assumptions. We all have our own disabilities. We all have our life challenges and differences. When we look at others and devalue them because we perceive them to be “less” than what we are, then we truly devalue ourselves.

When we find joy and wonder in the uniqueness of every individual, the world becomes a place full of treasure. The treasure lives in each person you meet - in their ways of meeting the challenges in their lives and in the unique gifts they offer to our lives.

As we start the new school year, I wonder how I can bring a lesson of tolerance and acceptance to children and young people.

How can I help them to understand that their lives will be richer if they accept and appreciate the differences in the people around them? How do I help them see that when our society oppresses and devalues those whom they see as “different,” it becomes less of what it should and can be?

I don't have the answer.

You have to be the answer.

Children learn from what they hear and see around them. Tolerance, acceptance and celebration of the differences of each individual are things which children need to observe in the adults in their lives. They look to you for their examples. They look to you for acceptance of the unique individual that they are and for the growth that comes in embracing the uniqueness of every individual.

Rosa Grube is an education coordinator for SAVAR of Cayuga Counseling Services