Focus on inclusion: Students learn from the Understanding Our Differences program

Driven by our focus on our school improvement plan goals as well as our North Reading Public Schools 2025 Vision for The Future we have been afforded an amazing opportunity to highlight our focus on inclusion as our students participate and learn from the Understanding Our Differences program. 

Understanding Our Differences (UOD) is a nationally recognized, educational program that teaches elementary school children to develop understanding and respect for fellow students and others with physical, sensory, or developmental disabilities. UOD is a disability awareness curriculum that we are utilizing to teach our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. After a successful pilot program in grade 3 during the previous school year we have expanded this program in order to have our students participate in two sessions per grade level. The program’s goals are to foster respect, acceptance, and compassion for people of all abilities. Furthermore, it reinforces our school goals and aligns with our school philosophy of focusing on safety, responsibility, respect, and kindness. 

As we are in the midst of the program each of the aforementioned grade levels have completed one session each and the feedback has been tremendous. I asked two grade 5 students about the program. Addison reported that she “really liked hearing from the presenter Ari and it was  fun to learn about disabilities.” She went further to note that she gained an understanding of perspective as she was able to garner an understanding that “everyone may be experiencing something different.”  Lastly, she felt that the best part was hearing the presenter's responses to her classmate's questions. Tyler concurred, indicating that he “liked that Ari could speak to his experience accurately and that he liked being with my classmates and learning about this topic.”   

The UOD Program was brought forward for us to implement by the North Reading Public Schools Special Education Parent Advisory Council and made possible through the support of our district leadership team as well as our school committee. We appreciate their unwavering support in all areas, especially in supporting our goals around inclusionary practices as well as belonging. Secondly, we have been thrilled with the content and the professionalism of the program director Jenni Acosta, and her amazing presenters who have helped all of us build our capacities for understanding. 

We are looking forward to our next set of sessions in the near future. If you are interested in learning more about the program, please save the following date and be on the lookout for an official announcement from our Family University Presentation: Understanding Our Differences which is scheduled for April 10, 2024, at 6:30 pm. This will be a parent, caregiver, and community presentation.  The presentation will help make connections with your children and enhance their understanding of differences in the classroom, community, and world around them.