“Together, We Are Able” Together, We Are Able® is Shane’s
Inspiration’s unique, curriculum-based education program, which utilizes the
powerful vehicle of play to promote social inclusion for children with
disabilities. Since we began school programming in 2002, we have reached more
than 20,000 students.
“Being a buddy taught me that I can make a person with a disability
laugh without even talking to him. I now appreciate life more than I
used to. This field trip changed the way I see people with
disabilities, the way I see me.” - Amanda, 5th Grade, after
participating in “Together, We Are Able.”
Through it, we combine engaging classroom lessons with
interactive field trips to inclusive playgrounds, giving children of all
abilities a hands-on opportunity to:
Examine personal
responses to and misconceptions about disabilities,
Discover the
common ground between people of differing abilities,
Deepen
character-building skills such as communication, observation, and empathy,
and
Learn to value
and appreciate diversity.
How It Works
An initial
60-minute classroom presentation utilizes writing, critical thinking,
group discussion, hands-on activities, and an inspirational DVD to help
children investigate common misconceptions about disabilities. The
students are then prepared for their interactive field trip.
The students
participate in an interactive field trip at a local inclusive playground
where they partner with students with disabilities for a half-day of play.
The students are supported by staff, who utilize play to help facilitate
communication and connections.
A second 45 minute
classroom presentation offers a post-field trip writing exercise, group
discussion, and hands-on activity that helps students synthesize their
experiences and how their perceptions have shifted.
An academic
curriculum allows teachers to extend the learning throughout the year
through ability awareness-themed lessons that emphasize language arts and
social studies.
“Being a buddy taught me
that disability doesn’t mean anything. It just means something to be a great
person inside.” - Jeff
“Being a buddy taught me that I can communicate with someone
that can’t talk. I thought that it would be hard but it turned out not to be.
All I had to do was talk to him. He could understand.” – Jake
“What surprised me most was that my buddy had the ability to
communicate with us by laughing or crying. Even if she can’t respond in words,
she can respond in emotions.” – Hannah
“I discovered that my buddy and I both love to play on
playgrounds. We had a lot of fun. The thing that surprised me most about her
was her ability to love and make friends.” - Ximena
