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Dragons don't just
exhale fire, cause maidens distress, and make life tough for silver-clad
knights...they also have hearts as big as castles.
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| In working with children with severe cognitive
disabilities and physical handicaps, it's a tough task for them to be truly
accepted by their non-handicapped peers. What typically takes place in
today's classroom setting for special-needs children is that we place them
in a "regular education" classroom and do some adaptations. Since we are in
accordance to all standards, these students are considered included in the
regular education classroom, but are they really? |
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Do their peers acknowledge them or include them in games without
being encouraged by a teacher? Do mainstreamed students appear scared or
apprehensive toward the student with disabilities? Think about it: Are
the cognitively disabled and physically handicapped students really
included?
In August of 1999 teacher, John Wresch introduced a program called
"The Dragon Club" at Alexander Middle School in Nekoosa, Wisconsin. This
program not only helps students become part of the student body, but
includes regular education students in the cognitively disabled
students' world (inclusion in reverse). What takes place is that both
the handicapped students and the students in the Dragon Club experience
a lifelong lesson on human relations. Ultimately, what happens to the
non-handicapped children is that when they see people with disabilities
outside the school environment, they have an understanding of the
challenges they face.
The purpose in developing the Dragon Club was to teach regular
education students about mental and physical challenges. If you
understand something you are not afraid of it...well, not as much,
anyway. |
| As members of the Dragon Club, the non-handicapped
students become staff, helping them take ownership of a program. They
become assistants in many ways. Handicapped students get out into the
community for functional activities that can help with their living and
job skills. Most regular education students love to go on field trips
because they get out of school. When a couple of students help with a
field trip, they smile from ear to ear because they are given the
opportunity to practice their newly developing skills. Those few hours
the Dragon members are away from their regular education classroom are
packed with a whole new multi-faceted learning style. |
This learning style is based upon the premise that children learn
better by hands-on activities, "tactile" rather than observation
"visual".
Here are some examples of what Dragon Club members learn and do
while in the club: They help disabled students bowl by using adaptive
devices, help model swimming or play games in the water, and learn that
a student with disabilities is a person too.
There is a Disability Awareness Day video available for a $20
deposit. When you return the tape you will get your deposit back. If you
would like information about starting a Dragon Club in your school or if
you are just interested in learning more about this idea and how it
works you may contact: |
Please check back soon. Our contact information is current but we have
several updates about the Dragon Club. |
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