Visitors to the Matheny School exhibit at the recent New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) Convention in Atlantic City had an opportunity to experience first-hand what it's like for children with disabilities to participate in a game or sport. The Matheny School, located in Peapack, is a private, non-profit school that serves students with multiple disabilities. Staff members designed a bean bag toss and invited convention attendees to try it out while sitting in a wheelchair. In addition, the contestants had to limit the mobility of their arms or eliminate use of their arms altogether. Or, they had to put a cover over one or both eyes.
"I think many children walked away with a little more appreciation for students with special needs," said Cindy LaBar, a resident of Long Valley who is Matheny's director of physical therapy. "It also helped them to understand that our students and all people with physical disabilities are able to participate in activities just like they do, with some adaptations. We explained that our students can ride a bike, go for a walk and even throw a football. There seemed to be a great deal of interest among public school teachers and therapists about how we adapt physical activities."
The NJEA convention attracts thousands of educators from throughout New Jersey who are looking for high quality professional development and the latest in educational technology.
