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CHAZY — It takes Ian Desjardins a little longer to do everyday things. But that doesn't mean he can't do them.
And that's a message the Chazy Central Rural School senior shared with his peers recently.
Desjardins, who was born with cerebral palsy, organized an assembly to help fellow students, grades 7 through 12, understand the importance of disability education.
BE AN ADVOCATE
Natasha Pecue, an aide at Champlain Valley Educational Services who suffered a traumatic brain injury after a car crash at the age of 19, spoke about learning to live a "differently abled lifestyle" by making adaptations.
"You know what you have to do to accommodate, to make obstacles manageable," she said. "I did realize I had to be my own advocate.
"It's important to understand your disability isn't anyone else's problem, but it's your gift to share."
Pecue, who uses a scooter to get around, told the audience that she wouldn't change anything about her life today.
"It's opened up doors; it's my reason to be here — it's my passion," she said about her disability. "It's opened up doors that I probably wouldn't have opened."
ACCEPT DISABILITY
Michael Sherman, a transition counselor at Plattsburgh High School and counselor at North Country Center for Independence spoke on the importance of accepting your disability.
Sherman, who became visually impaired after falling and fracturing his skull at 18 months old, said that for a while, in his youth, he didn't want to admit he had a disability. He described times in school when he tried to play basketball but couldn't see to catch the ball.
"If you have a disability, you have to be aware of it for yourself, admit it to yourself. Once you do that, personal growth just occurs."
Sherman, whom students call "Mr. Business As Usual," said it's important not to use disabilities as an excuse.
"I do understand; now let's get over it and get on with it," he said. "It doesn't matter how you get there, as long as you do."
STOP TEASING
Sherman works with disabled high-school students to get them into higher education or the workforce.
"I don't tell them at all what to do. I ask them what they want to do, and then I help them get there.
"We're not from the point where we can't be employed," he continued.
"We're human beings as well. Cut them some slack and stop laughing," he said about students teasing those who are differently abled. "If you don't open that door for them, they'll do it for themselves."
Desjardins said he surprises people every day.
"I do things many people think I can't do."
He talked about once pushing himself to climb to the top of a water slide. He tried three times and made it halfway. His peers said they never thought he'd get that far.
SENIOR PROJECT
The assembly was part of Desjardins's senior project, which also included a Hat Day, where students and teachers could pay to wear a ribbon and a hat. Desjardins will donate the money to the North Country Center for Independence.
He also completed awareness projects at the Elementary School by setting up activities that simulate different disabilities, like having impaired balance.
In one example, students were asked to wear gloves and try to put on a T-shirt, "to kind of see how difficult it would be for some people to do that," he said.
Desjardins has applied to Clinton Community College and hopes to someday be a radio broadcaster or a disc jockey. He said he's also thought about becoming a sports journalist.
"I know some people look down on people with a disability, saying that they can't really do as much. It's kind of lower standards for them. Some people don't even know what they can do and what they can't.
"(People are) kind of amazed that some of the things they can do I can do too, but it just takes me more time to complete them."
E-mail Michelle Besaw at: mbesaw@pressrepublican.com
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