“Just Like Me” Helps Students Understand
by Patty Myers, OCCPTA ESE Representative

It is so valuable to teach our students about different disabilities. Students need to understand what disabilities mean and how to include all students in activities. Often students feel fearful around other students with disabilities if they don’t understand what the disability is and have not been educated on how we are all the same no matter what different abilities we have. Having a disability awareness activity is so important and valuable for all students. Once we have a conversation, it opens the lines of communication and they understand why some kids behave differently then the way they do, may look different than them or may be in another class than they are.

I teamed up with Patrice Byerly with the Orange County Parent Ambassador Program to reach out to students and bring more awareness about different disabilities. Together we made 10 different boards that have students interacting with each other so they are able to “feel” what it may be like to have a disability. For instance, we have a board called “Talk To The Hand”. This board talks about sign language, who uses it and why they use it. We teach students different words and phrases using sign language so they can go home and teach their families. They are given a handout of the sign language alphabet too.

The boards are titled “Just Like Me” because we want to show students, it doesn’t matter what different abilities people have, everyone is “just like me”. The boards can be borrowed to be used at your school as well. Just go to the website below and contact us for more information. If you are interested in stepping up and volunteering at your school then contact your school PTA President and let them know that you would like to do this. We need to stand up and bring more awareness about students with disabilities and educate students, teachers, and staff.

I am available to help in anyway you need. I am here to support you and encourage you. Please email me if you have any questions at ese@occpta.org.

Patty Myers is an Orange County Council Parent Teacher Ass ociation ESE Representative and author of the book Autism is a Blessing.