A unique approach at one Ohio school has typically developing teens entering the world of special education for an eye-opening experience.

Through a semester-long elective at Kenston High School in Bainbridge, Ohio, high school juniors and seniors work side-by-side in a special education classroom with their peers who have special needs.

An outgrowth of a club, the course focuses on the history and experiences of individuals with disabilities. Typically developing students act as role models and are asked to do a series of creative, independent projects like organizing a dance or a talent show.

The benefits of the course are extending beyond the classroom, according to Amanda Englehart, a special education teacher who says she was inspired to develop the curriculum after seeing great students who simply didn’t know how to interact with students with disabilities.

“My kids aren’t sitting by themselves anymore during lunch, and they’re going over to each other’s houses on the weekend. It’s more than I ever thought it would be,” Englehart told the Sun News. To read more click here.

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