On Thursday, April 26, 2012, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., there will be a Special Education Awareness Fair held in Catawba College's Cannon Student Center. The fair will be sponsored by Catawba's Student North Carolina Association of Educators (SNCAE).
The Special Education Awareness Fair is funded by an $800 SOAR grant that Catawba's SNCAE chapter was awarded. The main goals of the event are to promote disability awareness, educate others about Catawba's new Special Education major, recruit students into Catawba's chapter of SNCAE, and provide general information to teachers and students about Special Education.
The fair will be a floating event with different stations and booths. There will be a general information area about disabilities, a booth for Catawba's Special Education major, a booth for Catawba's SNCAE program, and several other booths featuring community services and individuals who play a large role in promoting Special Education Awareness. Several Special Education teachers from the Rowan-Salisbury School System have been invited to speak about their experiences in working with special needs students.
Jordan Farmer, junior class SNCAE representative and student project manager of the event, sees the fair as a chance to raise awareness about disabilities as well as an opportunity for teachers in the community to collaborate and provide information for prospective students.
"This fair will be an opportunity for prospective teachers to learn about the importance of Special Education, inclusion, and accommodations in the classroom. For those who are already teachers, this event will serve as an opportunity to share their knowledge with prospective teachers and colleagues and to perhaps learn more about Special Education," Farmer explains. "As the grant stated, 'As a whole, the event will strengthen the ties between Catawba College, local area schools and the community at large. The fair will also raise disability awareness and develop an overall better society where people are treated as equals.' "
In addition to the information booths, there will be an art activity or video activity in which attendees can make a pledge to ban the use of the "R-word." Those who take the pledge will receive a free bracelet that will read, "Think before you speak. Ban the "R-word."
The Special Education Awareness Fair is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
If you are interested in helping with the Special Education Awareness Fair or if you would like more information, please contact Jordan Farmer at jdfarmer@catawba.edu or abosch@catawba.edu.
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Student NC Association of Educators (SNCAE)
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