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Students learn valuable lessons |
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Friday, 27 March 2009 |
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Stories of independence and perseverance filled Mike Jay’s classroom as clients of Auglaize Industries shared their stories with students Thursday morning.
Senior students in Mike Jay’s government class at Memorial High School received insight into the daily life of someone with disabilities during what Jay called “Disability Awareness Day.”
For around 13 years, representatives from the Auglaize County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and clients of Auglaize Industries have visited the class to share the lives of clients with students.
“The reason we do this with seniors is two fold — one, if you are not already you will come in to contact with people with disabilities,” Jay said. “Today we are trying to get you to get an appreciation and understanding of people with disabilities.”
Jay continued to talk to his students on the other reason that he has the guests join the classroom for a day.
“The second is you are all going to be voters and you will see MRDD tax levies on the ballot,” Jay said. “When you go to vote, hopefully you will have a better understanding of what your money does and goes to.”
Adult Services Director Greg Ferrall, who is in his 19th year with the Auglaize County MRDD, gave students facts and figures about the program and its clients.
Ferrall informed the students that only three of the 130 people in the program are married, three people have their drivers license and only two own their own homes.
“We just talked about limitations but the good news is, there is work available,” Ferrall said.
While the work has slowed down, Ferrall said the group is lucky to have businesses such as Veyance Technologies and Crown that supply work to the individuals.
Penni Carroll, of Auglaize Industries, told the students about her involvement with the clients.
“I love my job, I have been here for seven years, it has felt like seven months and I hope to be here until I am 70,” Carroll said. “I get the clients out into the community.”
Carroll takes the clients out on activities such as seeing plays, movies or going to other events.
Carroll told a story of how one of the clients who visited the students, Mick “The Music Man” Jaynes, chose to go to a movie.
The choice surprised Carroll since Jaynes is blind.
“I enjoyed it, it was fun, I love the movie,” Jaynes said. “It had lots of music in it.”
Jaynes went to see “Sweet Home Alabama” because of all the music and said music is a big part of his everyday life, while sharing part of his story with the students.
“I was born in Seymour, Indiana, and I started singing when I was 6,” Jaynes said. “I went to Indiana School for the Blind.”
Jaynes even filled the room with tunes as he shared his musical talents with the students with music from Mark Wills “Don’t Laugh at Me” and a selection from CCR.
St. Marys resident Annette Hines also is a client of Auglaize Industries.
“I work at Joint Township, work with the newsletter and do tear down,” Hines said.
Hines also said she likes to be a part of sports.
“I like to go to sports games,” Hines said. “I like watching football and I’m performing in track in the Special Olympics. I am running a relay, throwing the ball and the 100 meter.”
She shared her story of growing up in the public school system. After being made fun of and almost being sent to an institution, Hines found Auglaize Industries and began making her way to being a working individual.
“Now, I am a strong, independent woman,” Hines said.
Hines said she has talked to the students at Memorial High School before and enjoys the visit.
“I like talking to the students about when I was younger and what happened to me at school,” Hines said.
Ferrall, Carroll and Jay had the same hope for the students who heard the clients stories.
“Hopefully they are seeing they are like normal people with a sense of humor, they have ups and downs, and as Penni said they are more alike than they are different than them,” Jay said.
Carroll had an important message for the students as well.
“We are seeing more and more self-inflicted injuries due to alcohol and drugs,” Carroll said. “Prom is coming up, play it safe, wear a seat belt, don’t drink and drive and do not get in a car with someone with drugs. Always be aware of your surroundings.”
At the end of each period Jay offered his students a chance for bonus points. They had to try their hands at beating the fastest times of wheel chair races.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 15 April 2009 )
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