Findon Valley school-children learn what it’s like to be disabled

CHILDREN from the Vale First and Middle School learned what it was like to live in someone else’s shoes last week.
W46541H13   Charity, Enable Me, at the Vale First and Middle School in FindonW46541H13   Charity, Enable Me, at the Vale First and Middle School in Findon
W46541H13 Charity, Enable Me, at the Vale First and Middle School in Findon

The children took part in a series of workshops aimed at educating children about various disabilities, different cultures and types of jobs.

CEO of disability charity, JustDifferent, and cerebral palsy sufferer Toby Hewson, and Thalidomide sufferer Alison Wright, visited the school to help improve understanding towards disability.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Assistant headteacher, Dianne Neale said: “The children have been absolutely amazing. Alison from Just Different has been in every day. They have learned to paint with their feet and tidy using their toes.

“Toby came in and did an assembly on Friday and spoke through a synthesiser, which the children thought that was amazing.

“The idea is to not judge them for looking different because they are just the same on the inside.”

The entire school were involved in the ‘In your shoes’ week, which also included a visit from Enable Me – a charity set up to raise disability awareness and visual impairment charity 4sight.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Wheelchairs were brought in for the children to use as were glasses that simulate what it’s like to be visually impaired. Disabled games were also played, such as wheelchair game boccia and new-age curling.

Mrs Neale said: “The children have been very responsive and really understand what it is like to be in someone else’s shoes.

“We found the language they used to talk about disability has got better.”