“Understanding others begins with seeing their strengths, not their challenges.”

From Monday 17th November, our school will be celebrating Disability Awareness Week, a special opportunity for our children to learn about diversity, empathy, and inclusion in a fun and meaningful way.

Throughout the week, children will take part in a variety of challenges and activities designed to help them experience what life might be like for someone living with a disability. These are not tests, but rather hands-on experiences that encourage understanding, kindness, and respect by helping us see the world through someone else’s eyes.

By the end of the week, we hope all children will have a deeper appreciation for the unique abilities and perspectives of every person, and a stronger sense of how we can make our school and community more inclusive, supportive, and fair for everyone. Disability Awareness Week reminds us that everyone deserves to belong, to be understood, and to be celebrated for who they are.

We have joined forces with Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research (SMSR) charity who are helping us to better understand the lived experiences of others with spinal injuries and paralysis.
• 105,000 people are currently living with spinal cord injury (SCI) in the UK alone
• Approx. 4,400 people are injured or diagnosed with a spinal cord injury every year; this equates to 12 people every day, 1 person every 2 hours
• As a result of their injury, many people with paralysis experience a lifetime of debilitating health complications

Our week will commence with a launch assembly with Kat, one of the SMSR Ambassadors and we will close the week with a fundraising mufti-day where we would like children to come to school in the charity’s colour scheme: purple, blue and/ or white.

Thank you for your support as we continue to build an environment where empathy, inclusion, and respect are at the heart of all we do. Elangeni School