All Aboard partnership boosts pride

LOCAL charity All Aboard DisABILITY Support and Torquay’s Lisieux Primary School have joined forces for an important collaboration.

Participants from the support service’s See Me Sing Auslan singing choir have been teaching the school’s Grade 4 students how to sign the national anthem.

All Aboard co-founder Kate Marshall said participants were standing 6 inches taller because of the collaboration.

“There’s a small group of us who went to teach at the school and they just took that so seriously; they were so invested and friendly to the children.

“The children were really welcoming – no judgement. It was like they were teaching a skill; they were really feeling a great sense of pride and value.”

The collaboration is part of the school’s Strive program, which is designed to promote the development of knowledge.

 

Now the Grade 4 students have learnt how to sign the national anthem, they will begin teaching the rest of their peers.

Ms Marshall said for All Aboard and the participants, the relationship with the school has been really important, allowing them to speak with young children early on in their education.

“Young children can see the value of people with disabilities so it might change their perspective.

“We’re just able to demonstrate the skills that our participants have with a new cohort of people and that spreads to their families and to the rest of the school community.

“And also, the pride that our participants have in being the ones that are teaching other people and connecting to other people in a really positive way.”

The partnership will continue for the remainder of the term.