Each year, the Fifth Grade Center explores "abilities" of people through our Ability Awareness Day. As a homeroom class, students move through various stations and classrooms learning about vision impairments, physical disabilities, learning disabilities and attention difficulties. These engaging lessons attempt to spread the message that we are all unique and have abilities that make us stand out in wonderful ways. Teaching kids "People First Language" or putting the person before the disability is key to helping our students understand various levels of ability and how ultimately it is much more about what each person is able to do, over what they are not. Attached are a few pictures of our students as they went through the various stations on Friday. Our morning sessions end with a review and class discussion of "10 Things to Do When You Meet New People" (Even When They Have a Disability) from Patricia Mervine's Book How Katie Got a Voice and a Brand New Nickname.
Fifth Grade Center
Ability Awareness Day
January 26th, 2018
10 Things to Do When You Meet New People
(Even When They Have a Disability)
1. Look right at the person and smile.
Don’t point…don’t laugh…..don’t
ignore….don’t stare.
2. Face the person and use your normal
speaking voice, don’t mumble.
Even if the person has trouble
hearing, don’t shout! And don’t talk to the person as though they are younger
or not as smart as you.
3. If the person is with a caretaker or care
assistant, sign language
interpreter, or other companion, speak to the person, not the
companion.
4. Talk to people at their eye-level.
If you are talking to a person who
is in a wheelchair, kneel or sit down so you are at eye-level.
5. If a person has a service dog, ask for
permission before petting.
6. Only touch or play with that which belongs to
you.
Some people who have disabilities
use computers and other equipment called “Assistive Technology.” Even though these devices look cool, they are
often fragile and expensive. They are
not toys! Do not touch them or play with
them.
7. Be an attentive and patient listener.
Some people who have speech
disabilities can be difficult to understand.
Be patient, let them know their message is worth waiting for. If you don’t understand the message, it is OK
to ask them to say it again.
8. Ask first before helping someone.
Just like you, people with
disabilities want to be as independent as possible.
9. Talk about subjects that are interesting to
both of you.
People who have disabilities are
interested in the same things you are, talk about those subjects and not their
disability (unless they bring it up).
10. Focus on a person’s abilities, not what he
or she can’t do!
***The most important lesson of
all…. TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY YOU WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED!
