Iola elementary students learned more about National Disability Awareness Month on Thursday. Staff from RCIL, an independent living center, came to the schools to educate students with regard to disabilities. LINCOLN administrators are aware some students in the school have disabilities and have accommodated them. Earlier this year the school transformed a room in the school into a restroom that meets Americans with Disabilities Association guidelines.
Members of the Resource Center for Independent Living began at Lincoln elementary.
Adam Burnett told the students about his disability.
He was 18 and ready for college. He and his friends decided to go to the lake. He said he did something he had done many times before.
“I took a run and dove in,” he said. “But this time when I went in the water I hit my head.”
Burnett said he was lying in the water, unable to move.
“I was really lucky and my friends got me out of the water until help could come,” he said.
His accident broke bones in his neck and left him paralyzed. He now uses a wheelchair. Burnett said the accident didn’t stop him.
“Life goes on and I went on with my life,” he told the kids. “I can still drive, work, and get married. I’m like everyone else.”
After speaking with the students Burnett split the children into groups so they could go to different learning stations.
At his station he had kids use wheelchairs and steer themselves to the half court marker on the gym floor. The students lined up behind the chairs with excitement. Once they were in the chairs they realized moving, turning and backing up was not as easy as they thought. Some students subconsciously tried to use their feet to move faster in the chair until some classmates said, “Hey, that’s cheating.”
The lesson was to show students what it is like for someone who has to use a wheelchair daily.
Outside, another group learned about how a handicap accessible van works. Ron Henson, from Jay Hatfield Motors, Pittsburg, demonstrated how the van mechanically works and why.
Another group went through a station in the playground. What they thought was a game was actually a learning tool. Students were told to close their eyes and kick a ball across the yard. With their eyes closed they had to listen for a cow bell to find the ball. This station was to simulate what it is like for someone who has difficulty seeing.
Station leader Beth Burnett told the students about her disability.
“I can’t hear,” she said. “I’ve worn hearing aids since I was three.”
Beth told the kids that even with a disability she can still have fun, like playing kickball.
Teachers have even changed classrooms so students who can not use stairs can be on the first level.
Later that day RCIL visited McKinley Elementary students.
To reach Kayla follow her on Twitter @Kayla_IolaReg or email her at kayla@iolaregister.com.
Learning firsthand
