Working with people that have had traumatic brain injury and/or stroke was my first work experience as a speech pathologist. I feel lucky to have acute rehabilitation as my foundation because it helped me understand that there are many reasons why people do not perform, and many times it is not because they do not want to do better. I have worked in many schools where some of my students have been called “lazy,” and yes some of those students were no longer trying, but I try to remember that after years of failure what appears like laziness is often a protective strategy. If you don’t try no can not fail.