Iowa LEND Trainees Partner with Iowa Children's Museum to Heighten Disability Awareness

April 2, 2013

On  March 2, four Iowa LEND trainees, 15 University of Iowa physical therapy students, and a group of community volunteers held a two-hour disability awareness event at the Iowa Children's Museum.  Children participated in a variety of hands-on learning opportunities which included navigating an obstacle course using a wheelchair, walker or stander; performing tasks or playing games while experiencing a simulated sensory impairment; interacting with therapy dogs, and reading and writing braille.

The disability awareness event began as a project of the physical therapy ILEND trainees, then grew to become a Department of Physical Therapy student community service project.  ILEND physical therapy trainees have served as event chair and co-chair since it began nearly 10 years ago.  As word spread concerning the impact of the event, ILEND trainees representing other disciplines began to volunteer their time.

The event provides an excellent leadership and community observation opportunity for LEND trainees, while placing them in a position to facilitate learning among young children.  According to Bryan Stein and Patrick McCue, this year's ILEND trainees who coordinated the event, a great deal of learning occurred.  "It was great to see kids problem-solve as they played Connect 4 with gloves on or tried hopscotch with splints on their knees," noted Stein.

"The disability awareness event provided a unique learning opportunity for the children," said Alicia Jenson, an educator at the Iowa Children's Museum.  "Kids don't often have the chance to learn about disabilities, and they took advantage by trying everything!  In so doing, they learned important lessons about accepting and embracing differences."

Mandy Schey, a public health LEND trainee whose nine-year-old daughter Lia is pictured writing her name in braille, agrees.  "It was good for Lia to be able to learn and experience how people with disabilities accomplish everyday tasks," she said.

Those wishing further information about the disability awareness event should contact Katie Laubscher, [email protected].  To learn more about the ILEND program, visit www.uihealthcare.org/UCEDD/ILEND.