Students with Disabilities Awareness Month
March is Students with Disabilities Awareness Month! DoDEA is committed to empowering our super students by increasing awareness and promoting independence, integration, and inclusion of all students with disabilities. DoDEA provides a range of support to students with disabilities – from accommodations to specialized instruction in the classroom.
Students with disabilities are caring individuals who work hard every day. Many grow up to become academic scholars, athletes, poets, musicians, and artists. We appreciate and are proud of the positive contributions each student makes to our school’s productive and meaningful learning environment.
DoDEA also proudly recognizes the special education teachers who work hard to make a difference for students with disabilities. We appreciate everything they do to support and encourage our students with special disabilities.
Throughout Disabilities Awareness Month, DoDEA will:
- Highlight the positive impact students with disabilities make in our schools/communities
- Promote a message of inclusion and acceptance for everyone
- Be more mindful as to how a disability can impact a student and their family
- Reflect on the significant achievements that students with disabilities have made
- Renew our commitment to creating a stronger future for students with disabilities
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR STUDENTS
Dr. Aaron Masters, Assistive Technology Specialist with DoDEA Europe East District, talks about how Assistive Technology is empowering students to not only overcome their challenges, but keep up with maintaining DoDEA standards.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Gavin embodies the definition of a well-rounded student. He is currently in 10th grade at Camp Lejeune High School, where he has remained involved throughout remote learning during the past year. During classes, Gavin is always one of the first to greet others and ask about them and their families, which is a perfect example of his thoughtfulness. He not only participates in his core studies and curriculum; he has also continued his work with the JROTC. This is Gavin’s second year participating in this program. He is remotely integrated into the classroom by school staff, Megan Thornton, and completes both the academic pieces and physical training elements along with the other students. Gavin has worked hard in all of his Focus classes but has shown excellence in the area of reading during this school year. He has not only made significant improvements; he also authored a children’s book! Gavin’s schedule is among one of the fullest I have ever observed and he continues to demonstrate endurance physically and mentally every single day, along with the help from his family at home.
Aviano Elementary has a unique 3rd grade student named Andrew. Andrew first came to Aviano in preschool and has a severe visual impairment but has heartily embraced the use of assistive technology.
Some of the assistive technology he uses includes a portable closed-circuit television for work in all the general education classes, a flatscreen computer with wireless keyboard and mouse, dome and handheld magnifiers, large calculator, raised line paper, bold print writing utensils, a large print edition for standardized testing, Read & Write for Google Chrome to assist with Text to Speech (TTS) and Clicker 8 for writing assistance. He uses this technology throughout the school day to help access the general educational curriculum.
Camp Lejeune has continued to provide the option of remote learning for Learning Impaired Moderate Severe (LIMS) students, fondly referred to as the Reagle Room Rockstars.
Through remote learning, students have been able to receive Focus Math, ELA, Social Leisure, Pre-Vocational and Daily Living assignments as well as morning Team Time meetings and goal work sessions. Teachers have also made time for students to have one-to-one sessions throughout the week to work specifically on their IEP goals. Students have learned through themed scavenger hunts, a pet parade, a talent show, yoga, a live and personal tour of Disney World, a live tour with the nearby town mayor, a LEGO challenge, cookie decorating contest and more!
In Focus Pre-Vocational, students are exposed to different careers paths. They have learned about being an educator, baker, chiropractor, construction driller, choreographer, camera operator, carpenter, biologist, air traffic controller and many others.
The Daily Living class requires students to complete a multitude of activities in the home and then report back on their accomplishments or challenges. Some of the student’s favorite projects so far have included watching how plants get water using food coloring and celery, velocity and speed using a ramp and different model cars, the effect of shape on bounce using a tic tac and round ball.