Learning The Value Of Caring (NAPSA)—Teaching children acceptance could add upto a lifetimeof benefits. That's theidea behind a unique program meantto help youngsters understand what it meanstolive with a disability and to encourage kids to acceptdifferences. Used by teachers and parents, it explains whatdiffering disabilities are and provides hands-on activities to help youngsters learn how people with disabilities live independent, everydaylives. The free curriculum explores a range of conditions such as autism, ADHD andintellectual disabilities, and it includes specially crafted learning activities, hands-onexercises, guided discussions and more. Sponsored by Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, the program— called Friends Who Care—is offered by Easter Seals online. It’s broken into seven units that last 45 minutes each and canbe taught during one week or overseveral. Here's a look at a sampleactivity from the curriculum. It’s meant to help children develop a better understanding of autism— a developmental disability that’s diagnosed once every 20 minutes in the US. Understanding Autism * Have childrenfind a partner. One partnerwill try to tell the other partner about what he or she did over the weekend. The other partner will not respond and,instead, will try totell about the new video game he or she playedlast night. A unique program helps teach children what it means to live with a disabi * Give the children 90 seconds. Then, guidea discussion. Ask students how they felt when their partner didn’t respond to their topic. Explain that sometimes people with autism have a hard time holding conversations. The best approach when speaking with a person who has autism is to be direct by saying something such as, “I wantto tell you about my weekend and then we can talk about video games.” * Explain that children can help a person with autism learn to have a conversation, and that the person might teach them something in return. For more information or to download the curriculum, visit www.easterseals.com/friendswho care. You canalsocall (800) 2216827to learn more.
