Birdie Lokley showed summer school students at Dirigo Elementary School on Wednesday how to write their names in Braille using sequins and glue. The workshop was one of five to teach students about disabilities. Marianne Hutchinson/Lumford Falls Times
PERU — Students in Dirigo Elementary School’s summer program participated in a CARE workshop Wednesday to learn about disabilities.
“Today is a day to let kids know that there are more disabilities than just the ones you can see,” said Birdie Lokley, activities coordinator for after-school and summer programs.
Brianna Paulin, a summer school student at Dirigo Elementary, learns to use a cane while blindfolded and supervised by Ivan Dragun during a disability workshop at the Peru School on Wednesday. Marianne Hutchinson/Rumford Falls Times
Locléy and Gail True, former leaders of Girl Scout No. 954 in Peru, presented the workshop, which began with Girl Scouts, True said.
It’s about “fostering competence, recognition and respect for all,” she said Wednesday.
The workshop fits into the summer program’s theme of “CARE” – compassion, awareness, responsibility and empathy, said Cindy Petherbridge, school librarian and summer program coordinator.
“We have activities that teach kids how it feels to have ADHD, what it feels like to have things ‘thrown at’ them, and how other kids feel out in the world,” Loklay said of one of the five workshop stations.
“We had a lot of students with special needs come in at the beginning of the summer and some of the students seemed to be making fun of them. They need to know that it’s not OK to laugh at someone who is frustrated because they can’t do something,” Loklay said.
At Lokley’s station, students learned how to write their names in Braille using sequins and glue, and at another station, summer program staff member Audrey Lokley taught students the American Sign Language alphabet.
Kyle Cloutier, a student in Dirigo Elementary’s summer program, attempts to use a wheelchair during a disability workshop at the Peru school on Wednesday as Tammy Lynn Perry, an activities leader for the after-school and summer programs, looks on.
Tammy Lynn Perry, activities leader for the after-school and summer programs, said hosting the workshops is “great for our students. They don’t (always) see people with disabilities and they don’t know how to interact with them, and they need to learn how to help.”
At her station, students learned how to use wheelchairs, were blindfolded while performing activities and had their arms in a sling as they opened a jar or turned the pages of a book.
Before the students visited the station and learned about different disabilities, Tru asked the students questions about disabilities, such as, “Should we feel sorry for people with disabilities?”
While many students answered “yes,” True said, “No, they’re just people who do things differently. They don’t want sympathy, they want to be treated like everyone else.”
True explained that there are disabilities that are visible and invisible. “They could have autism, ADHD, any disability. We treat everybody with respect, right?” True asked. “We treat each other with kindness. The words we use can be hurtful. So if you see someone with a disability, don’t stare. Say ‘hi,’ tell them your name, ask them their name.”
“People with disabilities need friends just like you do,” Tru said.
Dirigo Elementary School summer program students learned the American Sign Language alphabet from staff member Audrey Lokley during a disability workshop at the Peruvian school on Wednesday. Marianne Hutchinson/Rumford Falls Times
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