Hi everyone,
My class hosted a "DISABILITY AWARENESS DAY" yesterday and it was a H-U-G-E success!!! So much stress and preparation the last two weeks over this event and now it's over.... the stress and prep paid off!!! I have talked about holding this event for three years and I'm so thrilled to have finally done it! Every school needs to host this event!!
The kids are still talking about it! They had so much fun and I could already see the instant transformation and empathy coming from some of these kids. Just seeing and hearing how much fun they were having during the event is a moment I will never forget.....and some of the comments.....brings a tear to my eye even now!!! I had one girl say to me, "Wow, I never realized that ______ acted like that because he had Autism. I feel really bad now. I laughed at him before." So touching!!
Well, here's some photos....and many of you know I am a horrible photographer, plus when you're so busy during an event like this, it's really hard to free yourself to take pics. Also regret that I took mostly panoramic pics, and very few pics and closeups of the actual activity engagements. Oh well....live and learn, right???
There were six different stations that included:
Vision impairment
Hearing impairment
Intellectual disabilities
Learning disabilities, dyslexia
Physical impairment
Autism/communication impairment
Students spent 20 minutes at each station completing 2-3 activities at each. At each station they got to experience what it might feel like to have these disabilities and what people with disabilities go through every day. I think this event really impacted a lot of kids today! :)
If this is something you'd like to do at your school, I just posted my "Disability Awareness Kit" on TN and TpT this evening. Alot of work went into preparing for this event, but if you purchase the kit, everything is prepared & done for you! No preparation, no stress! All you have to do is round up a few basic materials such as tape, yardsticks, and containers. The kit walks you through the entire event from start to finish! You can see it {here}. If you go to either one of my stores, you can download a preview of every page included!!!
Tonight I made these little "Thank You" bags for the staff, students, and parents that helped out at the event!
The chips without the mints are for the students, the bags with the mints are for the staff and parents. I have an edited set that doesn't say "Friday" or my "name" that you can download {here} for free!!
