Students and staff across the CHSD celebrated Autism and Neurodiversity Acceptance Month throughout April.
The goal this month was to promote acceptance and genuine understanding of our differences.
“We each have something that makes us unique, and we are proud that our school community came together in such an exciting way,” explained Melissa Rohr, a special education chairperson at Calhoun High School.
Calhoun was the centerpiece of several events and activities that promoted and celebrated inclusivity and acceptance, but similar efforts were echoed throughout the district.
Calhoun Special Education teachers Melanie Picchioni and Carly Wagner organized daily activities in coordination with various clubs, sports teams, and departments.
“The goal of this initiative was to promote experiences allowing students and staff to make new social connections while engaging in unique hands-on activities throughout the month,” Rohr explained.
Some artistic hands-on activities included a Polaroid photo booth, puffy painting led by Brian Joyce’s Senior Leadership class, rock painting sponsored by the sophomore class, friendship bracelet making led by the speech department, and make your own sensory water bottles, led by Mrs. Funk, Mrs. Hayes and Ms. Donlin.
“Additionally, there were some physical activities including: lawn games in the courtyard sponsored by Coach Pisano and Coach Sieber’s varsity softball team, yoga sessions led by Coach Peck’s varsity kickline team, pickup soccer games sponsored by Coach Thomann’s varsity soccer team, and the very popular Karaoke parties led by Jeannette Pincus and the CCP,” added Rohr.
Other fun giveaways included tinsel hair extensions from the cosmetology students, the COORFEE cart and Colts Candy giveaways, and cotton candy spun by the PPS department.
Another highlight was a presentation on neurodiversity given by students Nattie Martin, a sophomore, and Alex Radinsky, a senior, on April 16.
“You have to understand what it is before diving into it,” Radinsky began the discussion. “We all think, feel, observe, and learn differently. A neurodivergent person can have just one disorder or a variety.”
“My goal in speaking to you all today is to inform and educate more people on neurodivergence from a perspective of a neurodivergent person,” added Martin. “Often times education is often done by neurotypicals, or parents of neurodivergent people and I feel like we should give more neurodivergent people a voice.”
Radinsky echoed a similar goal of “educating the community at Calhoun about neurodivergence so that we can make it a more welcoming place.”
Neurodiversity is represented by a rainbow infinity sign, explained the pair.
“The rainbow represents a spectrum, which shows that neurodiversity is a spectrum, and the infinity sing shows that there are infinite ways to be neurodivergent,” added Radinsky.
Martin noted that being a neurodivergent in a world that isn’t designed for you isn’t easy.
“We all have coping mechanisms to deal with it,” she explained. They each listed art, music, reading, cosplay, animals and more as some examples.
Radinsky also travels the country speaking on panels at cosplay and fan-based conventions about nondivergence and her experiences in effort or educate others.
“My goal is to speak about how people can go to conventions without their disability holding them back,” she added.
Martin spoke at the April 3 board meeting, encouraging verbiage be changed from Autism Awareness Month to Autism and Neurodivergent Acceptance Month, as well as utilizing the infinity sign instead of the puzzle. Martin explained that both are more universally known and being utilized within the community.
“The next day, one of our board members, Megan Ryan, who is the CEO of Nassau University Medical Center, went in and changed all of the symbols at NUMC as a result of Nattie’s words,” explained Superintendent Michael Harrington explained at the April 16 presentation. “What you two are accomplishing just makes us all so proud.”
At each event, participants in each event were asked to fill out paper infinity symbols with what makes them unique and special. These individual symbols were planted throughout the month to form a rainbow infinity tree.
Kiera Heller, a social worker who works closely with Radinsky and Marin and helped to organize the presentation said the students “have taught her so much.”
“I never thought that I could learn from students this much and they really have changed by perspective,” she explained. “I try to bring it back to our department here and they have prompted me to sign up to learn more through workshops and other trainings.”
“By the end of the month this tree was in full bloom in the halls of Calhoun, and it was so great to see how so many unique participants could come together to form one strong and beautiful tree,” Rohr explained.
MAP/Prep teacher Rebecca Menachem organized a great for Autism Acceptance Month on April 17.
“Students and staff decorated pieces of an infinity symbol puzzle to put together, decorated cookies and enjoyed a salad bar,” explained Catrina Christensen, MAP and Prep Academy School Counselor. “PREP students also presented about their Autism to the MAP students.”
Mallory Freely, a physical education teacher and girls’ lacrosse coach at Kennedy, worked with her players to organize a fundraiser game for Autism Acceptance Month.
“We raised $1,800 for the Brookville Center for Children’s Services selling t-shirts, bracelets, and concessions at the April 19 game,” Freely explained.
Click here to view the photo slideshow.
Date Added: 5/3/2024