Making a difference in the lives of children!

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Our in-school program is a powerful three-hour, character-building workshop. We guide students through experiences in which they build life skills that enable them to understand and relate to people with disabilities. These results in a reduction of incidences of isolation and bullying for disabled individuals, and those viewed as different for any reason. The ATOU team of volunteers travels throughout the Sacramento region bringing this program to schools. The message of the program is introduced by a facilitator, followed by a video of people with disabilities involved in various sports and everyday activities. Students reflect on their own challenges and abilities, are frequently surprised to discover the similarities between themselves and persons with disabilities. Then they spend an hour at activity stations where they learn to use a wheelchair and white cane, write their names in Braille, handle artificial limbs and experience the sensations of having a learning disability and autism. The students then get to meet people with disabilities (both youth and adults) who describe their lives, their challenges, and how they achieve their goals. Students have ninety minutes to interact with these volunteers, get to know them personally, and ask questions, some of which might be inappropriate in other settings. Following the workshop, students are encouraged to sign a poster which is displayed in their classroom declaring, "We are BUDDIES not bullies. We pledge to joint the ATOU team against bullying." We are currently in need of volunteers to assist at our workshops as well as volunteers with a disability that are willing to share about their disability with school children.