OTTAWA- In the United States, there are over six million individuals who have developmental disabilities. In 1987, President Ronald Regan designated March as National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. To recognize diversity among their peers, Ottawa Elementary School hosted Mission KIND (Kids Impacted by Needs and Differences) on March 1.

Tricia Klausing, an occupational therapist who is contracted by the Ottawa-Glandorf Local School District through PT Services, had been involved in a similar program when she worked in the Findlay City Schools. She introduced the model to Ottawa Elementary, where the staff met it with much enthusiasm and fervor. A committee began planning the event early in the year and modified Findlay’s program to fit Ottawa Elementary’s needs.

Two persons who have first-hand experience with disabilities spoke to the entire school. In the morning session, Ashley Goecke, whose daughter has cerebral palsy, described what life with that disability entails. Jill Schumaker, a fourth-grade teacher at Ottawa Elementary, spoke in the afternoon session. Each of her three children has a different disability.

Schumaker encouraged the students when they encounter a person with a disability to “Just say hi,” and include those individuals in their activities.

Children in kindergarten through grade four had library books available in their classrooms so they could learn about disabilities.

Fifth and sixth-grade students participated in Mission KIND in the morning, while seventh and eighth-grade students took their turn in the afternoon. Students experienced what it was like to live with a disability. They rotated through six different stations, such as having to use a wheelchair, having a communication/hearing disorder, having an intellectual disability, having the use of only one limb, and having autism. Each station began with adults, who were either community volunteers or teachers, talking about a specific disability and how that disability could impact an individual, caretakers, and those around him or her. The students then completed numerous educational and hands-on activities.

“The hands-on activities give the students a more realistic idea if they had to do this (live with a disability) every day of their lives,” Klausing explained.

She also acknowledged that the day would not have been possible without the help of all the volunteers.

Volunteer Amber Wentz, who uses a wheelchair, was at a station where the students had to navigate a wheelchair and retrieve sticky notes that were placed high on a wall. She observed the children felt limited and frustrated.

“One girl initially said it was fun (to use a wheelchair), but later said, ‘I don’t think I would want to do this every day,’” Wentz recalled.

Student Maci Van Wagner, who was at the same station, said she was determined to get the sticky notes, but found that her options were limited.

“I learned that it is ok to give help and to ask for help,” she reported. “I will offer help to others.”

Jen Croy, Director of Curriculum/Special Services for the Ottawa-Glandorf District, led students through the stations. She remarked, “It is hard to put into words how impactful this day has been. We are giving the kids strategies to move forward. It’s been a learning day for them. I’ve heard some say, ‘I never knew this what this was like.’”

A group of seventh and eighth-grade boys were at a station where they were trying to get their peers to guess a sentence they were given; they could not use words or spell. Everett Croy tried to communicate, “My favorite color is yellow.” After the others took turns, the boys agreed it was very difficult, and even made them a bit mad, that they were unable to get their friends to understand them.

Audrey Beining, the Ottawa Elementary Principal, was one of the leaders in the intellectual disabilities station. She explained to the students, “What is fair is not always equal. Some people need accommodations to have the same playing field. No one asked to be born with a disability.”

Beining concluded, “One of our goals for the event was to develop empathy when students experienced daily living activities from a different perspective. Discussions also focused on recognizing each individual’s abilities, and the positive impact that students can make by being inclusive and compassionate. The beautiful diversity at Ottawa Elementary fosters student interactions across all ability levels each day.”

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