Fair simulates disabilities to encourage understanding

SO THAT’S HOW IT FEELS—Students at Medea Creek Middle School get a taste of what it’s like to live with various disabilities through a program hosted by the Special Education Advisory Committee. Above, hand mittens impair fine motor dexterity while, below, dark glasses and jumbled paragraphs simulate visual disabilities. People often say it’s difficult to appreciate another person’s perspective of the world until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.

Last week, the eighth graders at Medea Creek Middle School traded in boots for blacked-out glasses, hand mittens and wheelchairs to gain a greater appreciation for the difficulties faced by people with physical disabilities.

The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) held an Ability Awareness Fair last week at Medea to educate students about the limitations that some of their fellow students face daily.

The two-day event offered students a hands-on opportunity to learn about and experience the challenges faced by people living with disabilities.

“We felt that individuals had trouble accepting people with special needs unless they had an understanding of the situation,” said Julie Kerns, an SEAC member and the chief organizer of the event. “We also felt that people couldn’t fully understand the situation unless they experienced it first hand.”

After listening to an introductory speech, students split into groups that rotated between four stations. The stations—vision, communication, fine motor, and mobility—each had an exercise designed to replicate a certain disability.

“We made it hands-on because we wanted the students to take this experience with them so that they would be more passionate and more caring towards those with special needs,” said Kareen Weidenfeller, an SEAC member and a parent of a child with special needs.

At the communication station, students experienced dyslexia by reading jumbled paragraphs and mimicked the difficulty of talking with a speech impediment by answering questions while their mouths were stuffed with marshmallows.

For many students, the usually simple task of unwrapping Starburst candies became a daunting undertaking when their finger dexterity was impeded by wearing hand mittens.

“I’ve definitely learned you need to be grateful for what you have,” said one student as she tried to remove the waxy paper from the candy.

The vision station had both blacked-out glasses and a guest speaker to help students understand sight handicaps.

Eileen, an Oak Park resident who suffers from a degenerative eye disease, openly talked about the daily obstacles her vision impairment presents and how technology is helping her.

Eileen personified a disability many students had often heard about but rarely saw. One student instantly stopped doing a Stevie Wonder impression when he was told a blind person was in the room.

“I think it’s very important for the children to be exposed to this kind of thing,” said Eileen. “It increases awareness and empathy. Kids in the community recognize me and always tell me that I make a big impression with them.”

The SEAC got the idea for the event from the Special Education Local Plan Area, a Ventura County organization responsible for guaranteeing a free and appropriate public education to all students with disabilities.

In the Oak Park Unified School District, all children between kindergarten and eighth grade have participated in an ability awareness fair.

“It’s essential for all of us to be able to stand in the shoes of other people who have struggles,” said Cynthia Novak, an educational psychologist. “It makes us more sensitive, more aware and more understanding and that makes us more evolved human beings.”