As a kick-off to the 4th Grade STEM class engineering for inclusion unit, our students had the learning opportunity to meet with four people with disabilities (all contacts of Lower School Teacher Monica Sanchez), who shared their unique stories, skills, talents, adaptations, and joys.

• John Collins demonstrated how his prosthetic leg works, and later taught students how to spin poi! (Poi, a performing art that originated with New Zealand's Māori people, involves a ball tied to a string which is swung or twirled in rhythm. It can accompany music, and is sometimes done with fire in modern times.) The group even learned a short poi sequence.

• Chuck Dill spoke to students about how he learned to read Braille, a tactile reading and writing system used by blind and visually impaired people, and demonstrated how a Braille machine and even Meta smart glasses can assist him.

• Ryan Clary popped in via Zoom to discuss how he approaches being a blind athlete.

• Janet Wu then talked to the class about her career as a scientist at JPL, and about her upcoming trip to Singapore as a paraolympic competitor in outrigger canoeing. She also showed students her transformer wheelchair, and taught students about the adaptive tools that allow her to drive.

"It's an honor to be friends with our guests," said Sanchez. "I hope that introducing them to our 4th grade not only de-stigmatizes 'disabilities' but also helps our students to think more inclusively, regardless of an assignment to do so."

Following the visit, students are collaborating on a 'thank you' presentation to practice good manners. (For the blind guests, students are drumming up creative, inclusive ways to convey their thanks!) And to put all their learning to use, students will practice the engineering design process as they envision designing how playgrounds can be adaptive and inclusive. Go, 4th Grade!