Assembly participation - understanding what it feels like to have a learning disability or mobility difficulties

Last week I was chosen by my house head to take part in an assembly in order to demonstrate to others what it feels like to have a learning disability or a mobility difficulty. This afternoon, I took part in an obstacle course down the middle of the school hall, however the catch was that the instructions were given to us in Polish. This showed my team and I how difficult communication can be with people who have learning difficulties, as sometimes they just don't understand words in long and complicated sentences as others do. This has made me realise how important actions and gestures are. I also had to attempt to throw a bean bag from a sitting position in a chair into a hoop a considerable distance away. The catch? We were only allowed to use our lower arms, as our elbows were being held to our sides. This helped me to understand more about how frustrating it is to be in such a situation, and this in turn will enable me to be more understanding and sympathetic in my work.

I was then able to put my new skills into practise, as took part in my weekly volunteering session after school. When the children recognise you and choose you as someone to talk to, it is really special, as it shows that you have communicated so well that they want to tell you about everything that is happening in their lives. This, in my opinion, is a fantastic tool, as I understand that it can be particularly difficult to obtain a history from a stubborn patient!