Hi Betty and everyone-


I know that when I went to school in fairfax (well actualy the school I went
to was  in Alaxandria but was part of the fairfax co school system) they were
very pro disability awarness but that often it was the students with physical
disabilities that came up with the awarness programs and decided what they
were going to do.  I loved fairfax co schools because there were so many
others who had physical disabilities.  Oh by the way I went to one of the
magnet PD schools (Holmes) but I was mainstreemed for all but one resourse
class (study hall) because of stamina.  One week the PD kids read the
anouncements each morning (and some of us you could hardly understand) but we
taged on some disability awarness stuff at the end of each set of
anouncements.  It was great when a group of us got to got together we could
really get things done.  Espessisaly true for kids starting at about 11 and
above.  And I want to say that it was the teachers and the kids who were
doing it.  Not the parents or the administrators..although they were very
supportive like all of the parents on this list...in fact from my point of
view it is better if the kids with disabilities take the innisitive and plan
it if possible because then the other kids will relate more to someone there
own age and it won;t just be some adult lecturing and the disabled kids can
have a since of accomplishing something that was totaly up to them to make
happen.  I am big on letting kids take charge of things--it is good training
so that they will learn assertivness later on.

But an adlut comming in and giving a talk wouldn't hurt at all.  Anything to
further the cause I say.  The more that people with disabilities are out
front were people can see us the more accustmed people will become to seeing
us and that is our ultimait gole--not to stand out.  You are welcome to use
anthing I talk about in planning disability awarness programs.

When I was in middle school one of the programs I planned and cordinated was
a disability awarness day for the 7th grade sicence class.  I repeated the
presentation 6 times that day.  This was the largest presentation I have ever
done of this type and I cordinated with the physical disabilities department
at the school.  We had a viedo showing kids with disabilities and talking
about them--it even showed a hand cycle--I don't know the name of the viedo
but it was about 10 minutes long.  We had I think 6 or 7 diffrent simulation
activities including one handed towl folding, how to push and wheel a
wheelchair, beeper ball with blindfold, writing with the oppisit hand, one
handed egg cracking---very messey, guiding the blind--the students would pair
off and one would be blindfoled and be lead by the other and then they would
switch.  There are just tons of things you can do.  If you cut a rectangle in
the center of a brown paper bag at eye level you can simulate tunnel vision.

I must say that I had a very easy time orginizing all this.  In fact I got
the 12 dozen eggs I needed for the project donated by the first grocery store
I called! And yes I did call myself.   And rember I was only 13 at the time.
KIDS U CAN DO ANYTHING!

Yours,
Anee Stanford
webmaster of CPIC
http://www.geocities.com/aneecp/CPIC.html

In a message dated 12/8/1999 11:53:25 PM Central Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<<
 Anee,

 As usual, I am in awe of your great deeds.  I am wondering if they are doing
 something like this where I live (Alexandria, Va -- we shared about being
 neighbors in a previous post).  If I try to promote something like this in
 the City of Alexandria and they go for it, can we use what you have done as a
 go-by?  Can I consult with you if this pans out?

 Alexandria was very receptive to the idea of a nature program for children
 with disabilities when I contacted them.  Now they have a monthly program
 headed by their therapeutic recreation specialist.  I was in on the planning
 phase, but he has done every bit of the leg work.  He even had the kids write
 a letter to President Clinton about the program (Kingfishers).  That kind of
 motivation on the part of a city employee makes me think that this idea would
 fly also.

 Maybe they are already doing something, I don't know and I don't want to be
 presumptuous.  But there are under ten children with physical disabilities in
 the Alex. School system.  That makes me wonder whether they have thought to
 put training like this on their agenda.

 Trish knows the stats for special ed students in Fairfax County.  I can't
 remember them myself, but I know the number is astronomical.  I don't know if
 they are doing anything like this either though.

 Betty >>