Canyon Vista Elementary Presents Disability Awareness Day

Last week, children at Canyon Vista Elementary School met Frosty, a Siberian husky. John Maclean has a hearing loss, and Frosty works as his hearing service dog.

Maclean, Frosty, and others helped introduce the students to different types of disabilities on Disability Awareness Day.

Trish Sant, a mother of a Canyon Vista student and member of Special Education Linking Families (SELF), organized the event.

"This event helps show kids how to be a friend to those with disabilities," said Sant. "It gives the children vocabulary and helps to dissolve separation between them and those with disabilities."

Leading the assembly, titled "Overcoming Disabilities," was Vince Maggio. Students in third through fifth grade heard how Maggio lost both of his legs after being hit by a hit-and-run driver. He now walks on artificial legs.

After the assembly, the students were given the chance to visit five different stations. Each station provided the kids with information about ADD, ADHD and autism, therapy dogs, heart conditions and stroke, hearing and vision impairment, and food allergies.

At the first station, half of the children were given a worksheet with pictures. They were asked to circle a picture or to write a letter on the paper at the same time students were making loud noises while instructions were given. This helped to simulate how learning feels for a person with focusing difficulties.

Kindergarten teacher Lori Walker said, "The point was that the children with focusing issues have a difficult time concentrating and following directions. The students were better able to understand how it feels to have a problem with concentration."

At the next station, the children learned about Frosty. Sometimes called signal dogs, pooches such as Frosty are trained to listen for certain sounds such as alarms, babies, phones and doorbells. They are trained to get their masters and bring them to the object making the sound.

Sixth-grade Aliso Viejo Middle School student Gracie Doran was at middle station. Doran was a healthy young girl until she had a stroke two years ago. She lost many abilities and had to re-learn how to walk and talk.

"Gracie has surpassed the expectations that the doctors had for her," Walker said. "She writes a column for the Laguna Niguel Patch.  Gracie does not spend a lot of time thinking about what happened to her or trying to figure out 'why.' Instead, she focuses on what she can do to make a difference."

CVES parent Heather Wallin worked at the fourth station. She explained to students that people with impaired hearing are able to communicate using sign language. She showed the kids some common signs including the sign for "I love you." She let the students touch cards with Braille writing and explained that Braille allows visually impaired people to read and write.

At the last station, retired CVES teacher Yolanda Rosenberg spoke with the children about food allergies. She listed the top 10 foods that can cause allergic reactions:  dairy, eggs, fish, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, wheat and gluten. She explained what symptoms might occur with a food allergy.

"It was truly a great day," said Walker. " The kids really enjoyed it, and I think they learned a lot too."