teachers in action project: team making strides. walks for MS and Epilepsy

1. MAKING STRIDES: MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND EPILEPSY WALKS Nathalie Mejia Nathalie_mejia@knights.ucf.edu 04/23/10 EEX 4242

2. EARLY PERCEPTIONS Very little previous knowledge about disorders Neurologically-based Knew disability did not mean lack of intelligence Did not expect involvement of individuals with disability

3. INTRODUCTION TO THE SETTING MS walk in Downtown Orlando (Thornton Park, Lake Eola)

4. INTRODUCTION TO SETTING (CONT’D) Epilepsy walk in New Smyrna Beach (Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park) Walk on beach

5. DEMOGRAPHICS: MS Diverse teams of families and friends that came together to walk for individuals with MS.

6. DEMOGRAPHICS: EPILEPSY

7. PERSONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Secondary Education: Biology Little previous knowledge of MS and Epilepsy Drive to serve students with disabilities Daniel Me signing an MS “Join the Movement” banner at the walk

8. ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES: MS 8 am – 12 (noon) Walked “long route” (~2.3 mi.) “short route” option (~1 mi.) Music provided by local radio station Star Wars characters and face-painting clowns as entertainment My boyfriend posing with Star Wars characters Making Strides Team (Me, Emilee, Sarah, and Marissa) Me and my boyfriend right before the walking began Me and the clowns

9. ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES: MS START From “start”, walkers would travel counter clockwise around Lake Eola, marked with orange arrows. For the “long route,” participants would continue (red arrows) around Lake Lawson.

10. ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES:EPILEPSY 10 am – 1 pm Walked ~3.5 mi Route on beach instead of on roads My boyfriend and I waiting for the walk to start Walking on the beach for Epilepsy.

11. ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES: EPILEPSY Hosted by the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida After mid-day walk, provided food and refreshments Information about Epilepsy available on site Picnic area on the beach where refreshments and information was available Information table provided by the Epilepsy Foundation

12. PARTICIPANT DEMOGRAPHICS MS and Epilepsy affect all races, cultures, and ages Walks attended by individuals with disorder/disability, family, friends, and strangers Making Strides raised total of $200 Registration for walk Walkers hanging out after the event

13. REFLECTION OF THE EXPERIENCE Opportunity to help others Learn about the disorders and disabilities Bring knowledge and awareness to others Faces of MS and Epilepsy Most influential: conversation with woman with MS Jovial spirit, humor, warm Reflection of general mood of both events

14. REFLECTION OF THE EXPERIENCE Learning is a lifelong process Learning = building and growth Preconceptions/early perceptions are not bad Something to build on, grow from Key=open heart and mind Rick Lavoie’s definition of fairness Give students what they need to learn Howard Gardner