Systems Change and The Next Generation

At its most basic level, our school system serves to shape and build the minds of our children to prepare them for running this country in the next generation. The school system, then, seems a likely place to effect positive change in our society for people with disabilities. The Parent Information Center in Delaware has taken on this mission through its Disability Awareness Program (DAP). DAP travels to public schools throughout the state with a day-long series of presentations featuring information and experiences presented about and by people with disabilities. Cathy Sczubelek, the program coordinator, schedules a number of DAP Days over the course of the school-year.

One DAP Day was held at the Sussex Central Middle School in Millsboro on April 22. DATI staff gave a presentation on the importance of assistive technology for people with disabilities. The half-hour session was repeated three times, reaching over 600 junior high students and staff. Linda Heller, Director of the New Castle County Assistive Technology Resource Center, showed a video production depicting people with disabilities using a wide variety of assistive devices in many different settings. She also demonstrated the use of several devices she brought, ranging from a talking calculator to a remote switch-activated toy to a comb with a foot long angled handle. Bob Piech, DATI's Consumer Activities Coordinator, showed how he adapted a pocket sized cellular telephone for personal use and discussed the liberating experiences his adapted driving equipment has made possible.