Norfolk Public Schools Celebrates Ability Acceptance/Disability Awareness Month, Wearing Orange on March 21 to Show Support

NORFOLK — Norfolk Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ingrid Allardi and Director of Student Support Services Dr. Anna Eberwein-Tupper are proud to announce that the H. Olive Day School and the Freeman-Kennedy School are celebrating Ability Acceptance Day, inviting students and staff to wear orange to raise awareness on Friday, March 21, uniting in an effort to promote kindness, acceptance and inclusivity.

“To collectively promote Ability Acceptance, we must continue to build education around kindness, inclusion, and acceptance,” said Director of Student Support Services Dr. Anna Eberwein-Tupper. “As our community educates young people about disability awareness, our students will feel more understood, supported, and included.”

The school district is also hosting two presentations of the Immersion Experience by 1000 MILE Consulting and its founder Jennifer Ford, along with her son Gavin, for students in Grade 2 and Grade 5. Those presentations will occur during physical education class on March 18 and March 20.

The 1000 MILE Consulting presentations are sponsored by the Norfolk Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC), a nonprofit organization run by parent volunteers, aimed at providing a strong support system for families with children with special needs.

The Ability Acceptance/Disability Awareness campaign for the month of March follows related activities held by Norfolk Public Schools during January and February.

The iCare Disability Awareness Program was held for the second year in January and February. This program, held in collaboration with SEPAC, invited parent volunteers to read to every Pre-K to Grade 6 classroom.

The iCare program was made possible through the help of School Adjustment Counselor Andrew Drogan and School Adjustment Counselor Liz Longley, along with iCare Parent Coordinator Melissa Cyr.

“Programs like iCare and the Immersion Experience are invaluable in fostering a kinder, more accepting, and inclusive world, where everyone feels a strong sense of belonging. Our work has incredible power. Thank you for partnering with us in this effort,” said Dr. Anna Eberwein-Tupper. “Many thanks and kudos to everyone who supported this initiative, with a special note of thanks to Melissa Cyr, our iCare parent coordinator, and both of our school adjustment counselors. This program was a huge success, and we look forward to continuing this in future years.”

Classroom teachers throughout the district from Pre-K to Grade 6 also delivered social-emotional learning lessons with a special focus on ability acceptance and disability awareness through January and February.

“These lessons and discussions aimed to educate students and prepare them for the iCare Disability Awareness Program,” said Superintendent Dr. Allardi. “Thank you to all of our teachers for helping to raise awareness about this important topic, contributing to an inclusive, supportive environment for all of our students.”

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