IDEA Project brings interactive disability awareness to Grant Elementary
Grant Elementary students participate in an activity designed to simulate what it would be like to have a disability.
EPHRATA SCHOOL DISTRICT PHOTO
EPHRATA - In late October, Grant Elementary welcomed back The IDEA Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing Interactive Disability Education Awareness in schools.
This marks the sixth year Grant Elementary has partnered with the IDEA Project to provide tailored, hands-on activities that foster understanding and empathy skills for students with disabilities. The program is provided to all Grant Elementary students, from kindergarten through fourth grade.
The week-long program began with grade-level assemblies where students engaged in discussions about different abilities. Classes then rotated through activity stations designed to simulate different types of disabilities. Students engaged in activities that show what different experiences may be like if they were struggling with social skills, processing skills or developmental, neurological, physical disabilities or learning disabilities. The activities provided a firsthand experience that showed what might be easy for some could be quite challenging for others, promoting empathy and understanding among all the participants.
Principal Shannon Dahl said, “This program changes the way children think about and interact with students who may be different from themselves. It helps them identify and recognize differences, fostering greater inclusion. It has made a significant difference in our school community.”