Starburst on tongue, how a tongue feels.

[danikins]

Good morning all,
I hope I am not offending anyone. But I found this interesting. I have the most precious nephew who is 11 and has many health challenges. He is very much typically developing but has Arnold Chiari's syndrome. As a result, he has had a few brain decompression surgeries (sp). I firmly feel he will be Dani's guardian one day. Great kid, very smart and fun.

Anyway, his class had a sensitiviy training class one day. One activity they had the kids do, is put a starburst on the top of your tongue and try to talk. It was supposed to emulate how an individual with DS speaks or talks and feels with having a larger or heavier tongue. Well at my other nephew's football game, about 10 of us tried it and we stated talking to each other. Very interesting how we sounded. Just made us more aware and so glad the school is helping the other kids to understand what other kids go through.

Try it and let me know what you think. Eat the candy too. ;D Not that a lot of you don't have any since Halloween. Unfortunately, this was my first year without Dani as her dad had her for Halloween. I was a sad wreck but got her back yesterday. Gosh, I miss that little stinkpot when she is gone.

Kim mom to Dani--[glow=red,2,300]I love you forever and ever[/glow].

[hannahph]

That is interesting. When I was in JR high one of our classes took a field trip to a place that I now believe was an institution of sorts(it has since been shut down) They did several exercises with us like blindfolding us and leaving us alone on a bench for 10 minutes, putting vaseline on a pair of glasses, etc. Things that emulated how a person with a disability feels.I I can remember that feild trip clear as day and do know it made a huge impression on me. Now years later it haunts me because I wonder what became of all the residents there...anyway I believe that this might be a great teaching tool if used correctly. I think we really need more of this kind of thing. I get so frustrated at people day in day to day life who think nothing of maing fun of people with disabilities. This might make them think twice.

[Haleysmom]

Contact your local DS organization. They most likely will have a program that they can present at your school. I did this for Haley's 3rd grade class and I was told that alot of good information was provided. I think they used marshmallows and had the kids tell eachother what they had for dinner or something like that, then they used oven mitts and had them try to pick up buttons or cheerios or something. They also had discussion and Q&A time. Haley was included in the entire program BUT when Q&A came, they had her deliver a note to the office (just to give the students an opportunity to ask questions without offending Haley). Haley is now in middle school and I have offered to have this done again since it's a whole new population that has the pleasure of meeting Haley!

[ALLISA]

I think this is great.....I always find it hard to come up with a comparison for kids. Blind & Deaf are easy.....but DS is hard.....I'm defintiely gonna keep this in mind when kids ask me why she doesn't talk or if she DOES say something, they say " why does she talk like that?"

Thanks !!