Daily struggles of a disability: students learn through firsthand experience
More stories from Scott Bowser
Chris McCullough wears ear plugs to allow him to experience the challenges of being hearing impaired during Physical Disability Day.
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, one in five Americans has some kind of disability.
Disabilities can range from having mild difficulties speaking to not being able to get out bed in the morning.
On March 24, CHS students in the Introduction to Medical Careers and Medical Terminology and Procedures 2 classes, observed Physical Disability Day.
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Beth Craig, a Health Careers Academy teacher, said the “purpose of this activity is to allow students to experience how a day may be if they could not hear, see clearly, use a limb, etc.”
Students participated by pretending to have a disability during the regular school day.
A student taking part in this event could have had: Difficulties walking, hearing loss, impaired vision, arm paralysis, and paralyzed vocal cords.
To enhance their experience, one might have found themselves roaming the hallways with crutches, an eye patch, ear plugs, a cane, or the inability to speak.
Students and teachers were then forced to work around the impairment and still complete all of their assignments.
The goal of Physical Disability Day is to teach others what it’s like to have a physical handicap.
Senior Chris McCullough, who on March 24 temporarily had hearing loss by wearing ear plugs, believes it did just that.
McCullough said he learned “to appreciate that I am 100% healthy” and that having a disability is “just tough in general.”
Similarly, senior Sierra Goshea also views Physical Disability Day as a positive learning experience.
Goshea said she “learned so much from [Physical] Disability Day” because “it showed me even more that a small act of kindness can really help someone.”
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This is Scott Bowser, Periscope's News Section Editor. He's a junior that enjoys Netflix, tennis, and hanging out with friends. #ChipotleisLife
Connor O'Hagan • May 28, 2015 at 9:11 am
Making fun of people with disabilities is a terrible thing. as if people don’t already have enough on their plate already.
Julia Pantleo • Apr 23, 2015 at 12:34 pm
So THAT’S why there were a lot of people with crutches! I just thought a bunch of people fell or something… Oops!
Ally Richards • Apr 8, 2015 at 9:44 pm
I really wish that I took this class! I think it be an eye-opening experience to feel what it would be like for a person with disabilities firsthand. I think it was cool how students saw just how hard it was for a disabled person and they realized how lucky they are to not have any disabilities.
Meg McMurdy • Apr 8, 2015 at 1:50 pm
I really like this! I did not even know what was going on at first! I just thought everyone had been injured!!
Brandon Peck • Apr 8, 2015 at 9:27 am
I think this is a great thing. it gives people there persepective living life with a disability. Then its harder for people to make fun of others knowing what it likes raher then not knowing what its like
Robbie Steiner • Apr 7, 2015 at 9:04 am
That day opened the eyes of everyone who was participating in it and they learned to appreciate that they are healthy and that they shouldn’t make fun of people with disabilities
Sydney Ritchie • Mar 31, 2015 at 10:19 am
I remember doing this last year in Ms. Craig’s class. I had a right arm paralysis. It really taught me to be thankful that I have function of both of my arms!