Inclusion Week: A week to learn about disabilities, emphasize unity and understanding  

Highland Elementary students get instruction from Christina Carlin, right, as they write their names in Braille at the "vision impairment" station during the Inclusion Week event held at Highland Elementary School on Friday, 051923.
Highland Elementary students get instruction from Christina Carlin, right, as they write their names in Braille at the "vision impairment" station during the Inclusion Week event held at Highland Elementary School on Friday, 051923. Dan Watson/The Signal
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When it comes to asking a question about disabilities, society has been told it is a “taboo.” 

In efforts to break the taboo and further education about disabilities, Highlands Elementary School held its Inclusion Week, in which students would learn about disabilities through hands-on activities.   

Amanda Bergen, right, gives instruction as Highland Elementary students try to pick up coin-sized chips with socks on their hands at the "physical impairment"  station during the Inclusion Week event held at Highland Elementary School on Friday, 051923.
Amanda Bergen, right, gives instruction as Highland Elementary students try to pick up coin-sized chips with socks on their hands at the “physical impairment” station during the Inclusion Week event held at Highland Elementary School on Friday, 051923. Dan Watson/The Signal

“The biggest thing is having a place for them to be able to talk about this, it definitely seems like there’s a taboo,” said parent Christina Carlin. “If we make a space for them to come, where we are bringing it to them, we’re able to give them information and answer their questions about different disabilities.”  

Inclusion Week came to life by an idea of three mothers: Amanda Bergen, Christina Carlin and Silvana Fox. 

Highland Elementary students read the words by touching a book in Braille at the "vision impairment" station during the Inclusion Week event held at Highland Elementary School on Friday, 051923.
Highland Elementary students read the words by touching a book in Braille at the “vision impairment” station during the Inclusion Week event held at Highland Elementary School on Friday, 051923. Dan Watson/The Signal

All three have students in Highland’s Special Day Class (SDC), a program at the school for children with special needs. They wanted to create a safe space at the school for students to learn how others can be different and spread a positive message of inclusivity.  

“We plan to continue teaching and learning differences, but also accepting them,” said Highland Principal Susan Bender.  

The three mothers decided to spread their message through hands-on activities that educate students on how impairments can affect someone.  

Highland Elementary students react as they feel shaving cream with their fingers at the "Autism/sensory impairment" station during the Inclusion Week event held at Highland Elementary School on Friday, 051923.
Highland Elementary students react as they feel shaving cream with their fingers at the “Autism/sensory impairment” station during the Inclusion Week event held at Highland Elementary School on Friday, 051923. Dan Watson/The Signal

On Thursday and Friday, students from all grade levels at Highlands rotated between stations that each represented a different type of impairment.  

Students wrote their names in Braille using glue dots to learn about vision impairments; inserted their hands in mystery bins to gain insight on autism and sensory impairments; tried to read lips showing the reality of hearing impairments; put socks on their hands with only one hand and wore them as they tried to move bingo chips experiencing the reality of physical impairments; took a test in German to be witness to the struggle of intellectual disabilities; and read passages as they appear to those with dyslexia to experience a learning disability.  

Participants at each station talked about the impairment they were representing and how the activities applied to the lesson.  

Amanda Bergen looks on as Jocelyn Barrios, 12, celebrates getting a sock on her hand with one hand behind her back at the "physical impairment"  station during the Inclusion Week event held at Highland Elementary School on Friday, 051923.
Amanda Bergen looks on as Jocelyn Barrios, 12, celebrates getting a sock on her hand with one hand behind her back at the “physical impairment” station during the Inclusion Week event held at Highland Elementary School on Friday, 051923. Dan Watson/The Signal

“I think that there’s just so many people that have different disabilities that are really obvious, and some that aren’t obvious,” said Bergen. “It’s so important for students to understand what others might be going through, why they’re different and find ways to include them, even if maybe they can’t do something to the same level that other people can.” 

Bergen asked the students at her physical impairment station, “Is this frustrating?” They exclaimed “Yeah!” in response.  

Their temporary frustrations gained them the lifelong lesson of how impairments can affect one’s life and the importance of inclusion.  

Highland Elementary students from left, Emiliano Diaz, 11, Harold Billings, 10, and Nicholas Harris write their names in Braille at the "vision impairment" station during the Inclusion Week event held at Highland Elementary School on Friday, 051923.
Highland Elementary students from left, Emiliano Diaz, 11, Harold Billings, 10, and Nicholas Harris write their names in Braille at the “vision impairment” station during the Inclusion Week event held at Highland Elementary School on Friday, 051923. Dan Watson/The Signal

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