Ability Awareness Week
This week-long, multifaceted
program, developed by the SELPA 1 CAC, is conducted on school sites to
promote understanding and acceptance of individual learning and ability
differences through fun, attention-getting activities. Parent
volunteers involve every grade level in a variety of activities designed
to simulate different disabilities. These activities not only allow
students to experience what it is like to have different disabilities,
they also address the issues of acceptance, inclusion, and making friends.
Nearly a dozen schools in Mountain View, Los Altos and Palo Alto have
already conducted Ability Awareness Weeks. In order to bring AAW to your school, we need a volunteer from your
school to help organize it. The CAC can provide materials, training, and
assistance. We have also put together the
Ability Awareness Week How-To Manual,
which explains how to do each activity, complete with scripts on what to
say and descriptions of what works best. For more information on the
program in general, contact Karen
Mueller.
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Student Reactions:
"Ability Awareness Week has helped me to understand better that even
though kids have differences, they still have many characteristics that
are the same, like wanting to do your best, trying hard, making friends,
being accepted and loved, and having fun."
"During Ability Awareness Week, I learned that though some people
may have obvious disabilities, no one is without some disabilities...I
also learned two people can be different and the same at the same time."
"Ability Awareness Week last week was really fun...Even though we
are all different we are also the same because we are all human...I pledge
to be nice to everyone and treat everyone the same way, even if they are
different."
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The SELPA 1 CAC 
