From July 30 to August 1, 2024, BCIU Office of Professional Learning staff members Heather Wamsher, Program Administrator and Training & Consultation (TaC) Supervisor; Colleen Rios, Educational Consultant; and Katie Kehm, Program Administrator, attended and presented at the PA Community of Practice Transition Conference at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.
Their presentation, Toy Adaptation Day: Building Empathy and Ability Awareness Through Cross Agency Collaboration and Inclusive Engineering, highlighted the joint efforts of the BCIU's Pathways to Adult Living (PAL) and Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES) students, middle and high school students from two local school districts, and college mentors from the Penn State Berks FiERCE Engineering Club. The initiative focused on two main goals – cross-agency collaboration and enhancing STEM accessibility, aligning with best practices for effective transition planning for youth with disabilities. This innovative project involved adapting toys that were small-button operated to increase their accessibility by converting them to switch-operated systems. As a result of this project, over 60 toys were adapted and donated to local students with disabilities. The presenters, driven by a passion for connecting STEM and Special Education to support students of all abilities, aim to expand the project to further enhance inclusive collaboration throughout its scope.
This effort not only exemplifies the BCIU’s commitment to fostering inclusive learning environments but also underscores the transformative power of partnerships in providing meaningful, accessible opportunities for all students.