April 2011
Disable the Label
by Karen Unternahrer, Coordinator of Respite Care Services, Arc Opportunities, Inc.
Barriers of Perception
It is important for people without
disabilities to have an understanding
of what it is like to have a disability.
As the students rotate through five
different stations, the activities
help provide at least a partial
understanding of the challenges
a person with a disability may
encounter daily. One of the biggest
barriers people w ith disabilities
face are other people’s perceptions
of them. Wheelchairs are simply
devices, like glasses or bicycles that
help people with disabilities to
better accomplish what they want
and need. Just because someone
uses a device to help does not mean
that he/she cannot be independent
and productive. Feeling sorry for a
person with a disability, or thankful
that you do not have one, often
creates an extra burden for the
person with a disability. Most people
have come to see their disabilities
as a part of themselves, a part that
may make their lives different from
other people, but not necessarily
tragic. People with disabilities adapt
$10 Off Coupon for Tax Prep
Instant
Refund*
* with bank approval
Individual &
Business Tax
Preparation
This is an invitation to come see us at our offices in the Troyer
Saddlery building. We are located next to Shipshe Video, across
from Country Corral Restaurant. Let us put 15 years of accounting & 10 years of tax prep experience to work for you. We offer
tax prep for individual & business (including S-Corps & LLCs), as
well as full service accounting & payroll services.
260 D North Village Dr. • Shipshewana, IN 46565
Devon Weaver CTP, CQPA • [email protected]
Office: 260.768.4760 or 260.768.7198 • Fax: 260.768.4763
Page 17
Call for a free quote today! 260.768.4760
and adjust to their limitations;
unfortunately, their communities
often do not. Arc Opportunities is
grateful to the many volunteers who
assist in bringing a greater awareness
to the second graders enrolled in
our three LaGrange County school
corporations.
Anyone can benefit from
participating in some type of disability
awareness program, children and
adults alike; activities adjust for group
dynamics and age-appropriateness.
We know from the response of
volunteers and teachers that joining
in such activities helps one realize
most people have a disability of one
kind or another. The differences lie
mostly in degree, in whether our
disabilities are overt or hidden, in
the ways we are able to adapt to our
environment, in the attitudes of
people around us, and in the way
we are treated. I am available for
your group to experience and know
this for yourselves. Contact Karen
Unternahrer at 260.463.2653
Phone: 260-463-4901 • Fax 888-439-6528 • The Hometown Treasure
April Showers Bring May Flowers.
Showers of Blessings … and blessed
we are. Arc Opportunities’ interactive
Disability Awareness program
reached 421 second graders in the
public schools of LaGrange County.
Every year Lakeland, Prairie Heights,
and Westview school corporations
welcome us in recognition of
National Disability Awareness Month.
And every year volunteers facilitate
the learning that happens through
this hands-on approach. Thank
you, volunteers; we could not do it
without you!
The Indiana Governor’s Council
for People with Disabilities is a
change agent identifying needs
and researching the best possible
answers. Their objective is bringing
about changes to increase the
i n d e p e n d e n c e , p r o d u c t i v i t y,
and inclusion of children and
adults with disabilities. Go to www.
IndianaDisabilityAwareness.org for
more information and activities to
create understanding, including a
coloring page.