Students go about their everyday lives worrying about grades, love lives and favorite TV shows. But most hardly rarely stop to consider how difficult it is for their peers who live with mental and physical disabilities.
The second annual school-wide Diversity Day in Shelton, Conn., tried to combat such lack of awareness.
The Feb. 9 event, which was co-sponsored by Fairfield University and Shelton’s Mohegan Elementary School, included a workshop that was held in Mohegan Elementary’s gymnasium.
This year, fourth and sixth grade students visited eight stations different that were monitored by graduate students of the University’s psychology program. The stations illustrated visual, learning, cultural, and social differences among students.
“Not only were they [students] learning through the experimental activities at each station, but through conversation and discussion. I soon realized how insightful they [special needs students] are about diversity and the challenges some people face,” said Melissa Koval, a Fairfield graduate student volunteered at Diversity Day that past two years.
One station dealt with motor skill differences and offered children a chance to experience life like those who require wheelchairs on a daily basis.
Students were instructed to move through an obstacle course with a heavy backpack hooked onto the back of the chair and a full lunch tray on their lap.
Another station challenged sensory integration. Students were asked to select an object from a board and repeat the same action while someone tickled them with a feather. This distraction simulated how a child with autism or ADHD might feel.
Paula Lopez, a Fairfield psychology professor, said she modeled this event after a similar program established by one of her former student, Eileen Montgomery. Montgomery observed a similar event in Ridgefield, Conn., and implemented it at Jennings School in Fairfield, where she is a professor.
After Lopez worked at the first Diversity Day at Jennings School she brought it to Montgomery Elementary in Shelton, where her children attend. However, at that time the school principal was not interested. A new principle embraced the program last year and encouraged its establisement at Mohegan Elementary.
“I think the event is a very interesting way to promote understanding in young kids and a good way to spread awareness of difficulties faced by their peers,” said Emily O’Toole ’10.
After students experienced the activities, they were asked to provide feedback.
“They all love the event and, more importantly, they respond in ways that indicate they ‘get it’. Typical comments suggest students are developing the empathy and acceptance that will translate into changes in their behavior,” Lopez said.
A fourth grade boy said he felt sad for children who live with challenging differences and that he would help disabled persons whenever possible.
A sixth grade girl came to a similar conclusion. She said she would “think twice about making fun of kids” in the future.
Lopez said that in its second run, the program seemed to run more smoothly because of two main factors.
For one, the new dean was extremely supportive of the program, which garnered more media attention than last year.
Secondly, Lopez said she “knew better what to expect and had twice as many students helping out.”
Graduate students who volunteered at this event said they took away a strong sense of accomplishment from educating children about the different challenges that some of their peers face.
“It made me feel proud to be able to contribute to the lives of these children in such a positive way. I also felt hopeful that the lessons they learned on Diversity Day will make a difference in the way they treat one another,” said Koval. coordinator for the ethnic/cultural station.
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