Students Gain Disabilities Awareness

A week-long observation in all seven Lake Wales Charter Schools culminated with a special community event at Eagle Ridge Mall with hundreds of staff, students, families and local supporters celebrating Disabilities Awareness Week.

Charter Schools participated in a variety of activities designed to help students, teachers, staff, families and the broader community understand the importance of supporting special need students – children with disabilities – and their families.

"Students and staff throughout our system have participated in lots of neat activities and have witnessed great presentations designed to heighten their awareness of what it means to be different," noted Charter Superintendent Dr. Jesse Jackson. "More importantly, our effort has been to reinforce the responsibility that we all have to understand, support and embrace students that are faced with unique challenges."

This marked the fifth straight year that Eagle Ridge hosted the unique event which included information on programs at each school that are earmarked for children with disabilities, and also featured the Lake Wales High School band and color guard, prizes and food for all.

Hillcrest Elementary featured, for example, a study of the life of Helen Keller including having blindfolded students being led around the school by fellow classmates.

Hillcrest's student William Windham served as master of ceremonies. Sponsors included Polk State College, Florida Kid Care, Soliant Employment Solutions and Orange Tree Staffing.