October is Disability Awareness Month, which is a time to recognize and celebrate the importance of inclusion, understanding, and respect for individuals of all abilities. At West Boca Raton High School, the ESE program is promoting these values to students, teachers, and staff every day.
Students at our school have shown great enthusiasm for inclusion this year. From high-fives in the hallways to conversations during lunch, the ESE students are supported all the time. “West Boca students have been amazing,” Mrs. Hanley, stated. “At the pep rally, our students were getting high-fives and love from everyone. It is great to see that connection.”
When asked what Disability Awareness Month means to the school community, Mrs. Hanley explained, “It is a time set aside for people to make note of disabilities, even though it is around you every day. You need to live it and think about it, not just acknowledge it once a year.” This month is important for students and even staff to become more aware of the proper way to treat others, so that they can take these skills and use them for the rest of their lives.
Learning about disabilities and understanding the challenges others face can change how students see the world. “It gives you sympathy and helps you realize other people’s perspectives,” Mrs. Hanely added. “As young students, you do not know how your life will turn out; you, your children, or your family could one day face similar challenges.”
West Boca’s ESE program offers a wide range of opportunities for students with disabilities, mainly focused on independence. Core classes are self-contained, while electives are inclusion-based, allowing ESE and general education students to learn in the same classroom with the same material. “Our students can take part in any school activity, lunch events, and more,” Mrs. Hanely said. The main differences are the specialized elective classes and the time you can spend in school. “They’re trained for independent living and employment with specialized electives and can stay in school until age 22 to continue building those skills.”
Teachers who work directly with these students are certified in Exceptional Student Education, while general education teachers work with ESE staff to make sure every student succeeds in inclusion classes. “It is like a dance between regular and support teachers,” Mrs. Lombardi said. “We work together so that support teachers can help without interrupting class.”
Accommodations are tailored to each student’s individual needs. “There’s no end to accommodations,” said Mrs. Hanley. “It could be larger print, leaving class early, big keyboards, walkers, sound-sensitive headphones, extra time, or a modified curriculum. Whatever helps them learn best.”
One of the most inspiring parts of our ESE program is its inclusion outside of the classroom. Clubs like Bulls Buddies create friendships between students with and without disabilities. The school hopes to expand these opportunities in the future with events like the Special Olympics, inclusive dances, and more athletic involvement. “Our school is growing with this [ESE] population,” Mrs. Hanley noted. “We expect to do even more in the years ahead.”
The ESE staff emphasized the importance of patience and empathy, not just from students but also from teachers. “Teachers need to realize they’re dealing with kids, not adults,” Mrs. Lombardi explained. “Be patient, find what the student is interested in, and build a relationship. Don’t take things personally, you never know their home life.”
Above all, Mrs. Lombardi left this note for the West Boca community to remember during Disability Awareness Month:
“Do not focus on the student’s disability. Look at them as a person and see through their disability; it does not define them.”
