Different Abilities
We need to celebrate that God has made us all unique and different!
We all LEARN, MOVE, TOUCH, TALK, HEAR AND TASTE……DIFFERENTLY!
LEARN: We all learn differently, and that’s all right. Finding out our learning preferences can help us improve our educational experience.
Each person has a different learning style. It is important to embrace our individuality and the unique way we learn. Understanding what type of learner you are is important and can be used to your advantage. Learning styles may be visual, aural (listening), verbal (reading/writing) and kinesthetic (feel or move).
MOVE: We all move about our environment in different ways. Most infants learn to roll or crawl to get across the room. Then they start to cruise around furniture and eventually learn to walk. Other individuals with different diseases or conditions may use crutches, a walker, or wheelchair to move from one place to another. When going long distances we may ride a bike or horse, travel by car, boat, train, or plane.
TOUCH: When we touch something, whether it is stepping onto a sandy beach or petting a dog, sensations send messages to your brain. We may all touch an object the same way, but interpret the sensation slightly differently. Some people may like certain textures and some may not. Some people are able to pick up objects using a light touch, while others may grab an object with great force.
TALK (Communicate): We all use different ways to give one another a message to express a want or need. We may use body language, facial expressions, gestures/sign language, eye contact, posture, tone of voice, or even muscle tension or breathing. Some individuals may use pictures or technology to communicate.
HEAR: We all may have ears, but some people may need hearing aids to assist them in hearing effectively. Some people may hear the direction you are giving, but may need time to process the information before they can respond. There is also a difference in hearing and really listening when someone is talking.
TASTE (Gustatory): We all taste things in a different way. The areas of taste we perceive by our taste buds are sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. Umami, which is also known as monosodium glutamate which means “delicious savory taste” and is often described as the meaty, savory, deliciousness that deepens flavor. In each of our uniqueness we prefer some tastes over others. Some people prefer bland foods where others want very spicy ones.
Let’s celebrate that we all LEARN, MOVE, TOUCH, TALK, HEAR, AND TASTE …….DIFFERENTLY!!
Remember to always be kind and respectful to others and how they may do things in a different way.
Bulletin Board/Wall messages
These messages were placed on the walls of an elementary school where I hosted an Abilities Awareness Week for the students and staff.
The library assistants supported the theme by using their creativity for the staff and students to see for over a month.
