Across the country, March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month. It is an effort to raise awareness about inclusion and address the barriers people with developmental disabilities face to ensure everyone has equal access to opportunities in all aspects of life.
At Denair High School, a series of lunchtime activities last week gave students a closer glimpse into some of the challenges faced by their peers who are part of the special education program on campus.
For instance, on one day, students were asked to put marshmallows in their mouths, then try to talk to a friend. That was to give them a sense of what some of the non-verbal special ed students experience when trying to communicate.
Another challenge was attempting to pick up pennies or pencils off the ground wearing snow gloves. That was an effort to mimic the difficulties faced by those whose fine motor skills are compromised.
A third activity was to tape a yardstick to a student’s leg, then try to navigate stairs or sit down in a chair to better understand what students with physical disabilities go through each day.
There also were dress up themes throughout the week involving clothes, hats and sunglasses to celebrate diversity, acceptance, sensory sensitivities and the passion autistic students often feel for specific topics.
“The goal for the activities was to help other students see through the lens of some of their peers on campus that may deal with certain things they have never had to experience,” said Destiny Silva, who coordinates the Cup of Kindness Coffee Cart run by special ed students and also serves as their job skills coach.
Denair Superintendent Terry Metzger praised Denair High’s commitment to involving special education students in campus activities.
“The DHS staff, particularly those who work in the Project Life program, are champions for all students,” Metzger said. “Disability Awareness Month is a way for them to showcase what they do all year — help students embrace the things that make each person unique.”
Throughout last week’s various activities, Silva said she was reminded of the “amazing” campus culture of inclusiveness that already exists at Denair High, where special ed students routinely interact with their peers and staff.
“We have one of the most inclusive school districts I’ve seen,” she said. “We want everyone to recognize that inclusion is intentional. It is about identifying and removing barriers so that everyone can participate to the best of their ability.”
Still, Silva said that “we can always do more. We can always do better.”
“We will know ‘inclusive’ education has really become embedded in our school culture when the term becomes obsolete,” she said.
One idea for the future that Silva would like to promote is doing a weekly or monthly buddy partnership in which special ed students are paired with other Denair students.
“Whether that is our students having lunch with their high school buddy, doing an art project together to bond or playing games at lunch one day a week, I think that would be very beneficial and just one more step toward inclusion,” she said.
