Students from the Georgia RAMP Program celebrates Disability Employment Awareness Month!

Disability Employment Awareness Month heightens awareness while recognizing the contributions of Americans with disabilities to both our workforce and our society. Georgia RAMP sites experienced two days of learning and fun while helping our mentees gain confidence for thriving and advocating for themselves and others who are differently-abled.  Mentees discussed the five senses and how the loss of one or more impacts daily living tasks.  To give the mentees a glimpse of what it would be like to live without vision, they were paired with a less familiar partner, then given instructions to choose to be the leader or learner.  Learners were blindfolded and told they were at the mercy of their leader. Leaders then instructed the learners to leave the comfort of the classroom to navigate stairs, brick columns, doorways, courtyard boulders and return to the classroom without accident or injury. The experiences helped students appreciate the challenges of different disabilities, realize that they are not alone, and that it’s ok to ask for help: there are people who will help. Most of all, they learned that they are more important than their abilities.  Mentees vowed to focus on people first, not their abilities or disabilities.

Georgia RAMP Mentees strive to Learn, Connect, Work, and Lead missions for themselves and others regardless of abilities!