More Than Meets the Eye

Over the last few weeks, parent volunteers engaged our students in a series of "invisible disability" awareness experiences sponsored by the Tri-Town Council's DASH (Disability Awareness Starts Here) program, including bringing in a special guest on Thursday at a fourth-grade assembly.  

In simple terms, an invisible disability is a physical, mental or neurological condition that is not visible from the outside, yet can limit or challenge a person’s movements, senses, or activities.   - Invisible Disabilities Association

Through these immersive experiences, students' misunderstandings, false perceptions, and judgments shifted into opportunities for understanding, acceptance, tolerance, communication, and support. In other words, EMPATHY. This week's guest bloggers took some time to reflect on their eye-opening experiences. Here's what they had to say. #kidsbrimmingwithempathy 

Having an invisible disability is really just having a special ability. People with invisible disabilities can grow up to be very successful people, so never, ever judge a book by its cover.   - Kiwi222

People with invisible disabilties can look just like you but when you look closer, they are different in some ways, too. It is important to support someone with an invisible disability. If you know someone with one, you could ask them if they needed any help with reading. Little things like that can help a lot.    - Pineapple

If someone in my class had dyslexia, I would help them learn to read by breaking the words up for them. In writing, I would help them spell the word. In math, I would help them and teach them strategies.     - Galaxy

I learned that it's very frustrating to do some of the things that people with invisible disabilities have to do. Someone might seem "different" but really, they're just unique. Some people I know that have an invisible disability are some of the nicest people I know.   - PickleKitty

One way we can help someone with an invisible disability is we could ask them if they need help with anything that will help them do something better. We could also compliment something that they are doing well to encourage them.   - Wolverine12

It's helpful to learn about invisible disablities because people who don't have one don't know what it's like to have one. I think it would be really frustrating to have dyslexia because you would probably have trouble reading assignments and getting work done.   - Cheeto111

Some ways we can support someone with an invisible disability is to be kind and not make fun of them. We can actually stand up for them and encourage them to keep going when they want to give up.     - Soccer1234

I can support people with invisible disabilties by protecting them from other kids who don't really understand what it might be like. People with invisible disabilities can do a of things, so we just need to help them with the stuff they don't know or understand.    - Flash4

It is helpful to learn about invisible disabilities so that you can help people with them. For example, if someone had ADHD, it might be helpful to be quiet and not distracting because they have to work extra hard to stay focused. If you are someone with an invisible disability, you are really special and super smart. You might even be smarter than everyone else.   - Koala333

Learning about invisible disabilities is important so that you understand the reason why someone might be acting a certain way. Some people call them disabilities but in The Hive, we call them special abilities because they think differently and that's what makes them special.    - Horse321

"Since 1994, the DASH Program has been bringing Tri-Town parents, teachers, and students together through an innovative sensitivity awareness experience. With a focus on abilities, not disabilities, DASH teaches children to value their differences while encouraging mutual respect and fostering friendships without fear." - TTC.