NIFE TN Intern's Perspective on Working with Students with Disabilities

July 17, 2018

Intern at NIFE TN reviewing assignments with students

Nutrition Is for Everyone Tennessee (NIFE TN) focused on reaching out to Postsecondary Education Programs in Tennessee. These are university-based programs for students with intellectual disabilities, where part of their curriculums includes health based learning. The Nutrition Ambassador utilized and encouraged the local university nutrition programs (dietetic interns and senior undergraduate dietetic students) to help teach classes. With an outline for the topic to be covered, the interns/students filled in with lecture, in-class activities, homework assignments, and food tastings. In sharing their nutrition knowledge, the dietetic students/interns also learned about working with people with developmental or intellectual disabilities. 

Intern teaching about macronutrients(L) Two interns explaining how to taste a food (R)

NIFE TN intern reflections:

• "I am very grateful to have had the opportunity. The students seemed excited to learn about food and nutrition and had a lot of fun, especially with the tastings. Some of them tasted foods they had never tried before like jicama and grapefruit, so it was fun to see their reactions."
• "One thing that stood out to me throughout the classes was how they worked together during the activities with both enthusiasm and patience. They seemed receptive towards what we were sharing with them about nutrition, so hopefully it sticks with them and they can make healthy choices going forward."
• "It surprised me how interactive and willing to participate the students were. They were very adept at using the resources that were available, like cell phones, to accomplish the activities given to them."
• "Many of the students did not see themselves as someone with a disability, they saw themselves as just another student obtaining an education. I think this is how we should all approach disabilities and other aspects of our lives, including someone regardless of their physical or mental capabilities."

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