Jackson mayor signs proclamation establishing Disability Awareness Week in Jackson

In observance of the Jackson School District's "Everybody Counts" week in October, Jackson Mayor Barbara Lohr signed a proclamation Friday making Oct. 4 through 8 Disability Awareness Week in Jackson. Republican state Rep. Scott Lipke also signed a resolution from the Missouri House of Representatives making the same designation.

Lohr said she was pleased to be able to work with the school district in raising awareness in the city.

"It's an opportunity to make all of the citizens in Jackson aware of students and citizens with disabilities," she said. Lohr said she hopes the awareness will lead to more acceptance of those with disabilities.

Beth Emmendorfer, associate superintendent with the district, said the mayor's proclamation was important because organizers have been wanting to increase community involvement. This is the third year for the awareness week and in the past businesses and organizations in the city have put the slogan "Everybody Counts in Jackson" on their signs and billboards.

Traci Ritter, with the school district's parenting partnership council, echoed Emmendorfer's desire to raise awareness in the community, as well as the schools. She said the more people involved in the week leads to more recognition of the similarities all people share.

"The most important thing is it starts a conversation," she said. "We all need friendship and feel like a valued part of the community. This opens a dialogue that we are more alike than we are different."

She said children often feel uncomfortable around those that look different and raising awareness will help children feel more at ease talking and playing with those students.

Dory Johnson, chairwoman of the Cape County Board for the Developmentally Disabled and the mother of a 32-year-old disabled man, said society's acceptance of those with disabilities has increased, but there is still work to be done. She said starting with the younger generation is critical.

"It is very important. I wish it had been done years ago. When my son was younger, he was set aside and not really acknowledged," Johnson said.

Emmendorfer said all preschool classrooms in the district are integrated.

"When you start that young, it just becomes part of life," she said.

Preschool teachers receive guidance from special education teachers on the best ways to instruct those with disabilities.

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