Posted by Lauren Grossberg on Tue, Aug 31, 2010
For many students, performing in front of a group or a large audience can be something they dread or are not comfortable doing. For others, like the students at Thresholds Theatre in Chicago, it is a way for those with mental disorders and disabilities to share their experiences with others and tell their unique stories.
Sharing personal stories and experiences with others is a common therapeutic for those who have mental illness or disorders. In their 7 month program, people from all over the community come together to share their own personal stories. The groups do exercises and games that allow them to bounce around ideas. After a few months of bonding and sharing, when the students are comfortable, they start to build material that will be used in their show. Participants practice hard for the production, which is held in a live theatre and is put on anywhere from 7 to 12 times.
Threshold, which is Chicago’s largest mental health agency, has many different programs for people with mental disabilities. In the production, personal stories, poems and other works of art are all used. For the first time, they were able to incorporate many deaf participants because of the interpreter on staff that was able to attend all rehearsals.
For those who are participating in the program, it is a great way to share and listen to others who have been through similar situations. Those who attend the performances are able to see not only the stories and experiences from those in the program, but the hard work and dedication each one has put into each performance.
Free Teacher Resources | Special Education by MangoMon
Posted by Lauren Grossberg on Thu, Aug 12, 2010
For students who cannot hear, sometimes learning to read can pose a challenge. Luckily, a Murray County summer camp is showing students that they don’t have to be sitting in a classroom to learn the skills necessary.
In Sulphur, Oklahoma, campers who are deaf may have challenges for even some of the simplest tasks like painting or acting. Not being able to hear a sound is the most obvious reason for this. Even a task like reading, which can be hard enough for all students, can be ten times harder for students who are unable to hear the sounds or spoken words.
The Oklahoma School for the Deaf is holding its fifth year as the host of a summer reading camp. The goal of this summer camp is to help those students who may be deaf or hard of hearing improve their reading skills and learn new ones, all while having a fun and memorable summer.
In addition to practicing their reading and literacy skills, students who attend the camp also get the chance to socialize and interact with students who are just like them and have similar challenges or differences. It is a great way for students with these challenges to know that there are others who are just like them and that they are not alone in their differences.
In addition to their improved reading skills, the staff at the camp hopes that students leave with more confidence and self esteem. With a summer full of learning and new friends, there is no reason why they shouldn’t!
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Posted by Lauren Grossberg on Wed, Jun 30, 2010
For students with special needs, there is often a specific place for them to go to work with specialists or people that can help them learn and grow. But, for children in other countries, they may not have a place to go at all.
The 10,000 deaf children in Afghanistan have since fallen into this category, with no opportunity for education or learning. Since the deaf community in this country is often treated like the female community, with no respect, education and advancements, people from other countries have taken a stand.
The nonprofit from Colorado, Mountain2Mountain
(M2M), which has already affected the lives of hundreds of men, women and children in Afghanistan, has been working towards giving these children the opportunities they deserve. With no sign language or communication, these children are missing out on the chance of a lifetime.
The Afghan National Association for the Deaf (ANAD) and M2M have recently started building a new school for deaf children in Kabul. The land, donated by the government is the future home to the green and sustainable buildings which will educate children and employ the community.
The school should be complete by the time school starts in the fall. With primary and secondary schools and teachers, about 800 children will learn International Sign Language and a new Afghani sign language. Because of the school's location, children can also learn about agriculture training, too.
This school is the only chance these children have to get an education and learn how to communicate. This innovative school will provide this chance for so many worthy children.
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