Exceptional Education students enjoy field trip to Oak Mountain State Park
Jefferson County students with special needs are spending this week in the great outdoors.Through Friday, they’re canoeing, playing and enjoying picnics as part of the school system’s adaptive physical education program.Susan Wirt, Director of Special Education and Individual Testing at Jefferson County Schools, said they’ve held this trip for the last 30 years.”We feel as though kids, regardless of their ability, have to have access to this beautiful location,” Wirt said.Wirt said parents have a good time, too, spending time with their kids and learning more about their education.”It is a wonderful bonding experience, plus it just shows them what we do in adaptive PE,” Wirt said.Parent Kortland Shaw said he looks forward to taking this trip with his daughter’s school each year.While watching his daughter play, he cooked hot dogs for her classmates.”She has the best teachers I have ever encountered,” Shaw said. “They’ll do anything for these kids, so for me to come up here and give them a break and be able to cook for these kids, this is a small token of my appreciation for what they do for my kids.”Ann Bryant, sign language interpreter, said trips like these are essential for students.”Having that community engagement and getting to see other kids that are like them, maybe have similar struggles and not only just connecting but getting to play and having fun is so important for them,” Bryant said.
Jefferson County students with special needs are spending this week in the great outdoors.
Through Friday, they’re canoeing, playing and enjoying picnics as part of the school system’s adaptive physical education program.
Susan Wirt, Director of Special Education and Individual Testing at Jefferson County Schools, said they’ve held this trip for the last 30 years.
“We feel as though kids, regardless of their ability, have to have access to this beautiful location,” Wirt said.
Wirt said parents have a good time, too, spending time with their kids and learning more about their education.
“It is a wonderful bonding experience, plus it just shows them what we do in adaptive PE,” Wirt said.
Parent Kortland Shaw said he looks forward to taking this trip with his daughter’s school each year.
While watching his daughter play, he cooked hot dogs for her classmates.
“She has the best teachers I have ever encountered,” Shaw said. “They’ll do anything for these kids, so for me to come up here and give them a break and be able to cook for these kids, this is a small token of my appreciation for what they do for my kids.”
Ann Bryant, sign language interpreter, said trips like these are essential for students.
“Having that community engagement and getting to see other kids that are like them, maybe have similar struggles and not only just connecting but getting to play and having fun is so important for them,” Bryant said.