Disabled for a day
Updated: January 8, 2013
GIBSON CITY -- Students learned a new lesson at their middle school on Tuesday. Each student took turns having a disability for the day. It's part of a year-long project to help students build character. This month they're focusing on tolerance.
Gibson City 8th grader Kayla McCreary was one of about 270 students who got to experience something new: dealing with a disability.
"I was in a wheelchair for two class periods today and it was difficult asking students to watch out so I didn't hit them or having help getting to places," said McCreary.
Other students had to use crutches or ear plugs. And more had to tape together their fingers as if they had arthritis.
"My disability was tunnel vision," said Gibson City 8th grader Gideon Kerber. "I had goggles but black construction paper taped over it and the only way we could see was through little eye holes poked into there."
Some challenges made it hard to see, but the students said the experience opened their eyes.
"I learned that it's really difficult and it takes a lot of patience to get places without as much help," said McCreary.
For them, the adjustment was temporary.
"Nothing too bad," said Kerber. "But there were some times that I just absolutely had to take them off in order to do something."
Guidance counselor Julie Withrow said the goal was to teach empathy. It's a lesson she hopes students will take with them even after they take off their goggles.
"People with disabilities cant just turn them on and off whenever they feel like it," said Withrow. "It's something they have to deal with all the time. It's not necessarily something people see on a regular basis but it's also something we wanted kids to have a better understanding of."
This is the first time the school has done something like this. But Withrow said she's looking into doing more projects like this one in the future.
Gibson City 8th grader Kayla McCreary was one of about 270 students who got to experience something new: dealing with a disability.
"I was in a wheelchair for two class periods today and it was difficult asking students to watch out so I didn't hit them or having help getting to places," said McCreary.
Other students had to use crutches or ear plugs. And more had to tape together their fingers as if they had arthritis.
"My disability was tunnel vision," said Gibson City 8th grader Gideon Kerber. "I had goggles but black construction paper taped over it and the only way we could see was through little eye holes poked into there."
Some challenges made it hard to see, but the students said the experience opened their eyes.
"I learned that it's really difficult and it takes a lot of patience to get places without as much help," said McCreary.
For them, the adjustment was temporary.
"Nothing too bad," said Kerber. "But there were some times that I just absolutely had to take them off in order to do something."
Guidance counselor Julie Withrow said the goal was to teach empathy. It's a lesson she hopes students will take with them even after they take off their goggles.
"People with disabilities cant just turn them on and off whenever they feel like it," said Withrow. "It's something they have to deal with all the time. It's not necessarily something people see on a regular basis but it's also something we wanted kids to have a better understanding of."
This is the first time the school has done something like this. But Withrow said she's looking into doing more projects like this one in the future.
