Students become aware of disabilities

Chris Richards Arizona Daily Wildcat Michelle Woods, psychology freshman, attempts to thread beads last night at Coronado Residence Hall while wearing gloves with some of the fingers sewn together. The exercise was part of Disability Awareness Night, in conjunction with Jewish Awareness Mont h.

Participating in Disability Awareness Night, in conjunction with Jewish Awareness Month, nine students passed between three stations in the lobby of Coronado Residence Hall simulating what it would be like to have a learning or a physical disability.

"This campus has an incredible proportion of people who have disabilities," said Laura Henry, special education and rehabilitation senior and president of the United Jewish Appeal/Challenge philanthropy with the Hillel Foundation.

"The idea is to create education and awareness about persons with disabilities," Henry said.

Participants began by sitting in a circle, trying to read four sentences containing backward letters. The sentences simulated what it would be like to have dyslexia, a learning disability.

Henry explained to the group that dyslexia is a processing problem where the eyes see one thing and the brain comes up with something different.

"Dyslexia is called the 'invisible disability' because it is hidden very well," Henry said. "If you are in a class and have this disorder, it is very intimidating to raise your hand and ask the teacher to speak slower."

Participants then learned what it would be like to have a physical disability by circulating to stations which simulated hearing, sight and mobility impairments.

"It is a little more difficult," said Lesley Fox, pre-nursing sophomore.

Fox attempted to string a line of beads while wearing gloves with some of the fingers sewn together. "In a way it would be difficult to have hands like this all of the time," she said.

Fox said she attended because everyone needs to be aware of disabilities.

"A good way to create awareness is when you actually have the experience," she said. "We are all different, but if you are educated, being different is easier to accept."

Fox, who said she knows people with disabilities, said she will be able to apply her new-found knowledge to her everyday life.

Troy Lillebo, assistant hall director at Coronado, tried to draw a star that was reflected in a mirror without looking at the original picture or his hands. The activity simulated the experiences of a person with a special disability processing problem.

"It was really hard - I have always been a visual person," Lillebo said. "This made me aware that other people can't always make this connection."

"If you are not around persons with disabilities, you don't know how to react," Henry said. "Hopefully if people have a better understanding they will feel more comfortable."