Sperreng Middle School seventh-graders and Concord Elementary School third- and fourth-graders recently learned about various disabilities during their schools’ annual Ability Awareness Days, to develop a better understanding and awareness of differences among students.
Similar ability awareness events take place at all Lindbergh Schools, and while elementary schools focus primarily on disabilities you can see, middle school activities also include information on disabilities that cannot be seen based solely on outward appearance.
Sperreng students took turns listening to presentations on topics such as Down Syndrome, physical disabilities, Special Olympics, ADD/ADHD, self esteem and depression, autism, Tourette Syndrome, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
At Concord, fourth graders listened to stories from three speakers. Nancy Martin spoke to the children about her physical disability, Cerebral Palsy, while Jim Dugan shared his experiences surrounding the loss of his legs, a physical disability. The children tried using wheel chairs in order to better understand this type of mobility. The third speaker was Ginger Johnson, who shared information regarding learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.
Meanwhile, third-graders learned about hearing impairments and sign language, visual impairments and the use of Braille, and C.H.A.M.P. Assistance Therapy dogs.
