A team from Heartland Independent Living (HIL) came to Gerald Elementary School last week with a specific objective: To teach second-graders what it is like to live with a disability.
Molly …
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A team from Heartland Independent Living (HIL) came to Gerald Elementary School last week with a specific objective: To teach second-graders what it is like to live with a disability.
Molly Steinbeck, finance and marketing coordinator with HIL, oversees the disability awareness education program. She says this is the second year the program has been offered at GES.
Denny Huff --— who serves on the board of directors at HIL-— and his service dog, Sounder, have done presentations both years. Huff describes to the youngsters how he has adapted to living with blindness.
Students were also encouraged to try activities while simulating handicaps.
One student said the presentation was very interesting and made him “think of things he hadn’t thought of before.” Steinbeck said second-graders seem to be the perfect age for this type of education.
HIL serves Franklin, Gasconade, Maries and Osage counties. The disability awareness education is geared towards kids, but can be offered in a non-school setting. For information on the program, you may call Steinbeck at 573-437-5100.
