Abilities Presentation Promotes Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion at VCMS

Each year, Special Education Teacher Tracy Shores gives an Abilities Presentation to sixth graders. It's designed to promote awareness, acceptance and understanding of individuals with different abilities and disabilities. 

Students learn that everyone has strengths and struggles, regardless of who they are, and that every person deserves to be treated with kindness, acceptance and understanding. The presentation celebrates the uniqueness of each individual while helping students better understand developmental and intellectual disabilities and other challenges, including Tic Disorder, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, ADHD, anxiety and depression, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Students also explore ways they can support and include others within the VCMS community. One opportunity highlighted is the Peer Buddy Program in the Life Skills Classroom. Mrs. Heim, her students and a current Peer Buddy introduce students to the program and share how peer buddies can help foster friendships, inclusion and a welcoming school environment.

The presentation reinforces an important message for students: Everyone has unique strengths, everyone faces challenges, and everyone has something valuable to contribute.