1. My setting at Rick Hansen School Foundation in Richmond is a little corner office at a desk with a computer. This is where I spend the majority of the day, typing away at documents that RHSP will hopefully use in the future for their secondary resource packages. Two to three times a week we visit an elementary school to evaluate how some of the programs RHSP has are being implemented into the classes. It is fascinating to see the resources in action after reading them on paper for so long. For the most part, we work in an office environment. This was a worry for me coming into the CFE because I am aware that I am quite unproductive working at a computer for long periods of time. I enjoy hands on work where I am able to move throughout the day. However, I am very interested in special education for learning disabilities and physical disabilities, so the material keeps me engaged throughout the day.
2. For the most part, our (Cedric and myself) day is spent working on our own trying to finish a set of challenges that RHSF can use for their Abilities In Motion Secondary Program. These challenges are meant to promote project-based, cross-curricular learning. This means that when we design a challenge, it can be applied to more than one subject, and it should be a hands-on project that can be developed. There are options to do a mini project after a classroom discussion, or options to plan, design, and build the tools needed to create a more inclusive and accessible world. As previously mentioned, sometimes we have a “break” in our work day to visit a school and see how programs are working in action. This week we have visited Lord Byng Elementary School in Richmond where a group of secondary students is working with a group of elementary students to complete random acts of kindness activities to make a difference in their community. Rick’s infamous world tour is used as an example to show how we can make a difference in our community.  Next week will be very similar to this week in terms of tasks we are doing. We have a few team meetings and check-ins (these are usually informal), and will visit different schools to see how programs are working.
3. This week, we created 3 or 4 challenges that are in their draft mode and will be brought to the meeting on Monday for review. We also went on school visits. During the first week of the CFE  I have learned that there is a stigma where people may feel sympathetic towards Persons with Disabilities (PWD), or they may feel that PWD are inspirational for completing a task that wouldn’t be considered inspirational if an able bodied person did it. I think I have been guilty in contributing to this stigma. There is this idea that society patronizes PWD by “over-crediting” tasks accomplished.  That sounds harsh, but I think the mentality our society needs to work towards is that PWD are no different than anyone else—they are able to complete the same things, just differently. The message RHSP is trying to put out is that our world should provide the options for people to complete tasks differently. If a PWD wants to go on a nature walk, what tools can we build to make that walk accessible? It has reshaped my mind set to make accessibility a natural part of our world.My mentality has definitely shifted this week.

I am not a science teacher :). I am an English and Spanish teacher.