DASH 2

Today DASH gave us the opportunity to experience what it might feel like to have a learning disability. Students who have invisible disabilities often struggle in school even though they are smart in so many ways. Thanks to our volunteers, Mrs. Frere, Mrs. Foley, Mrs. Lacata, Mrs. Hudson, and  Mrs. Harlor, the class went through four different activities that attempted to simulate what having a particular learning difference might feel like. We went to Mrs. Frere's station and tried to deal with social situations. At Mrs. Foley's station, tried to do math and word problems. With Mrs. Harlor, we learned what having a reading disability feels like. Also, Mrs. Hudson showed us how difficult it is to have a writing disability in school.

At all the stations, we learned that there are different strategies that teachers and students can use to help those who learn differently achieve success.

We looked at photos that are hard to see the image to understand how some students feel when they are in school. It can be frustrating to try your best, but still not be able to "see" the solution.

We tried to trace a star while looking only in the mirror.

It was a real challenge staying in the lines.

Even when we concentrated really hard it was still very tricky. This is the way some students often feel in school because they have an invisible disability.

This is one student's work after trying for over 5 minutes to trace the star while looking in the mirror.

Students were given math word problems to solve, but the problems were written in a way to simulate a reading disability.  This helped the students see what a tough time others may have in school.

This is really tricky.