Welcome Wellness

Get Inspired: Educating Outside the Lines

Welcome Wellness! Health and wellness are unique to every individual person. Today, we're inviting you to do what you can to keep yourself and your community healthy and to learn more about how health and wellness are important for everyone.

We all navigate the world in our own way. Watch the video above to learn about how kids with disabilities are teaching other kids about what life with a disability is like. This suburban school celebrates Disability Awareness Week with a program from Educating Outside the Lines, where students develop understanding and build community.

This film was produced by Small Forces, a creative impact studio here in Chicago dedicated to amplifying the work of purpose-driven organizations through cinematic storytelling. We love their inspiring work!

Let’s Talk

After watching the video about Educating Outside the Lines, use the questions below to kick-start a great conversation with your family:

• In the video, Ahalya talks about how for her, the pool feels like home. What does she mean by this?

• Did the kids in the video challenge the way you think about ability? How so?

• What space or activity makes you feel like you're most at home? Why is it important to you?

• Bonus! What's your favorite way to stay active? Is it something you and your family can do today? If not, how can you adapt the activity to stay active?

Community Connections: United Cerebral Palsy

Be an advocate! We can all strive to create more inclusive communities for people who are alike and different from us. Today, learn about how you can help people with disabilities feel welcome and accepted. Take some time to explore the list linked below from United Cerebral Palsy, one of the largest health nonprofits in the United States. UCP is committed to being a resource not only for individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, but also for their families and their communities.

UCP’s list of tips for communication, interaction, and etiquette is one tool to help create empathy for and understanding about people who may experience the world differently. What suggestions on the UCP list did you know already? What was new to you? What can you do differently at work or school, which might be helpful to your colleagues or classmates who have disabilities? By being thoughtful and respectful and by asking when you’re not sure what to do, you can be an advocate!