Ability Awareness Day brings students together
Hickory Hills Elementary School held their sixth annual Ability Awareness Day at High Street Baptist Church on March 27 to teach students about different disabilities and remind them that everyone belongs and has something valuable to contribute.
“We want students to feel empowered to make sure we are unified, all in, all together at Hickory Hills,” said Hickory Hills Principal Stephanie Young.
The event began with a presentation by Springfield Special Olympics: Unified Athletes. Unified Champion Schools Manager Jennie Randolph talked about the purpose and importance of the event and read “A Color of His Own” by Leo Lionni before inviting Special Olympics athletes to the stage. Athletes Donny and J demonstrated basketball and weight lifting skills before inviting students on stage to join them. This showed the students that regardless of a diagnosis, everyone has different skills and abilities.
After the kickoff, students rotated through six different stations – Fine and Gross Motors, Unified, Down Syndrome, American Sign Language (ASL), Understanding Emotions and Sensory with Dr. Christopher Craig. Through these hands-on learning areas, students learned more about the daily lives of people with different abilities and the tools they use.
“As we celebrate our sixth year hosting this event, we continue to receive incredible feedback from students, families and staff, and we’re excited to keep expanding our students’ understanding of inclusion and empathy,” said Young.
This event was possible thanks to the financial support of Community Foundation of the Ozarks and Bambinos. Sponsors also donated their time, expertise and resources, including Barnabas Prep, Hickory Hills Students Council, High Street Baptist Church, Missouri State University, Parkview High School ASL, The Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks and Springfield Special Olympics.
