Inclusion and Protecting Kids
Hello, Wildcat families!
Happy April! This is a big month, as we have a LOT going on.
Inclusion week is designed to help students gain an awareness of those
around them who may need support in order to be included. The week will focus on
three main areas of inclusion – physical, sensory, and cognitive.
Students often ask, “Mrs. Simmons, why can’t you walk?” I decided Inclusion
Week would be a great time to share a tiny bit of my story with them! I’ll take this
space to share a little bit with you, too. I have a neurological disorder which, long
story short, causes my muscles to act weak. I was able to walk through 7th grade
and then had a spinal surgery, which caused me to transition into using a scooter
from that point on. I clearly fit into the “physical” area of inclusion week.
I have been blessed enough in my life to have THE best family and friends
who always found ways to keep me included. From 8th grade on, I had friends who
gave me piggyback rides into homes, lifted me on and off fair rides, in and out of
pools, and even on hikes. I’ll give a caveat here that I weighed about 90 pounds back
then! My high school PE teacher allowed me to take three years of PE. My senior
year, he fashioned a golf club for me that was short enough to use from my scooter.
Honestly, it looked a bit more like polo than golf but he found a way to include me.
My friends and community found ways to ensure I was included when it was
possible. Even today, my close friends are always looking for handicap parking
spots, ramps, accessible restrooms, etc. Why? Because they understand what I need
to be included. You see, when we learn to understand what someone needs, it
makes it much easier to find ways to include them. That’s our goal this week – to
help students understand the various needs people have and how to become those
incredible friends who make inclusion happen. Don’t worry, I won’t be encouraging
students to pick up unknown kids in wheelchairs and carry them around on their
backs. No, I’ll be encouraging students to get to know one another, understand their
various needs, and learn how to be good friends through inclusion!
Beyond physical inclusion, we also have sensory (vision, hearing, etc.) and
cognitive, which refers to how people’s brains work. This can be anything from a
friend who is just learning English to someone who has dyslexia.
