Butler H.S. class experiences disabilities
By Patrick Thornton
Daily Record
The student with a cloth duct taped over his eyes tried to walk through the cafeteria and out a door. The effort was getting frustrating, and another student helped out.
The student was one of approximately 70 in Gail Bignell's sociology classes Friday at Butler High School who simulated what it was like to be physically disabled.
The idea came to Bignell several years ago when she had a student confined to a wheel chair because of spina bifida. Bignell wanted students to realize the limitations placed on disabled people. That wheelchair-bound student was only able to take her sociology class, located on the third floor, because the school had just installed an elevator.
For the past three years, Bignell's three sociology classes have been attempting this exercise. At the beginning of each year, Bignell stresses empathy, because she wants students to understand what other people go through, whether they are disabled, of another race, religion, sex or any other differentiating characteristic.
"I don't think there is any better way to learn than to actually go through a situation," she said.
Awakened sympathy
After the exercise, she has noticed her students being more sympathetic towards disabled people. Students begin telling her stories about how they have noticed disabled people more and have tried to help them.
"That's my job as a teacher, to awaken them," she said. Seniors Samantha Black and Chelsea Buteri were taped together by one of their legs to simulate what it's like to be conjoined at the hip. Buteri also had tape over her mouth, forcing her to use makeshift hand signals to communicate with Black. Black had one her thumbs taped into her palm.
"It makes you realize what people go through every day," Black said. Some of the other simulated disabilities include: being deaf, with ear plugs and construction head phones; and using crutches or a walker. The exercise was not related to the fundraiser for muscular dystrophy being held the same day, but Bignell said it was good that students were learning and donating.
Before the exercise each year, students ask Bignell why don't they do the exercise for the whole day? After just three of nine periods in the school day, students are usually exhausted, she said.
She tells them, "Trust me, you will be very happy when it's over." And her students are very happy when it's over. "It's really tiring," Black said. "It would be really hard."