“Do you know what an impairment is?”
I asked this concern to students in third- through fifth-grade classes. Some students offered an answer, however many struggled to form thoughts on the topic. I decided to raise our students’ awareness of their schoolmates with disabilities.At South Walker(Louisiana) Elementary, I treat trainees in our substantial disabilities classroom, numerous resource classes and two special-needs pre-K classes. I desired our typical trainees to much better comprehend their unique education classmates, so I hosted an event called “Understanding Originality. “The event helps inform trainees and staff about different disabilities. I likewise hoped the occasion would promote a more caring and supporting environment amongst all trainees in our big school.More than 350 upper elementary students took part in Comprehending Uniqueness.
I set up a series of events in the school lunchroom and classes turned through during the afternoon. Each of the four activity stations concentrated on a different impairment and provided normal trainees a method to experience a few of the difficulties experienced by their classmates.The stations included physical problems, autism/communication, visual disability and learning impairment. (We felt the time constraints made it too challenging to completely and accurately cover hearing loss concerns as part of this event, but we wish to do so for a future program.)At the physical problems station, students wore thick gloves and attempted to untie their shoes, choose up cents, open a jar and put buttons in a container. These activities represent how somebody with a handicap may feel when asked to take part in a job involving gross-motor schools.Our autism/communication center showed difficulties related to a speech and/or a sensory condition.
At this center, students picked a card from a container and after that interacted what was written on the card using only a photo board, while staying nonverbal. For the visual disability station, trainees used glasses they could not translucent and attempted to draw a picture. They also felt braille and attempted to compose their name using braille.Lastly, the learning special needs station signified what a student with dyslexia may experience. Trainees at this station attempted to read a passage of words with letters out of order or composed backward.Collaboration was key to the occasion’s success. The substantial specials needs teacher, paraprofessionals, school board members, ESL teacher, adapted PE company and two regional nurses all assisted trainees through the activity stations. Other school faculty and administrators likewise supported our efforts.Following the” Comprehending Individuality”program, trainees received a handout explaining a special needs, the different types of problems, and tips to prevent bullying. Trainees took the handout home to share with moms and dads and siblings.After finishing the program, our third-through fifth-graders demonstrated an increased understanding of a large range of specials needs. Many general education trainees now make a point to say hey there to our considerable special needs students in the hallway or to hold the door open for our trainees in wheelchairs. We see the success of the”Comprehending Individuality”program in the normal students ‘actions, the appreciation received from parents at our school, and even from instructors and professor commenting on the changes they see.Lauren Gongre Miley, ClinScD, CCC-SLP, operates at South Walker Elementary in Walker, Louisiana.
Related Post
