We bring our young adults with disabilities into the school as teachers. They teach
what it is to have a disability by example. They talk about their lives and answer
questions students may have. It gives kids an opportunity to talk to someone with
disabilities in a comfortable setting. This takes a lot of fear of the unknown out of
becoming friends with a person with disabilities.
There are performing arts classes throughout the day culminating in an evening
concert that is presented to families and community members. The last class is a
creative writing class in which students write (or draw pictures) about what they
have learned, how it has impacted or changed them, and how they will use this
information to help create communities of kindness and inclusion. The best,
well-written essays will be chosen and the students writing them will be asked to
share them on stage at the evening concert.
Throughout the day, students will be taught parts of a performance, causing
interaction between the performers and the audience. They will be asked to stand
up in the audience at the evening performance to participate.
Through working together and having persons with disabilities in leadership
positions, we are breaking down stereotypes and showing abilities