I am volunteering for the creative arts program at Life's Worc. This past Saturday December 1,2012 was their Holiday party. I was asked to help serve the food. I had no problem doing this. As the students (the children with disabilities) and their families began to arrive, I was a little taken back by the wide variety of noticeable disabilities of the students. This had absolutely no effect on how I would treat the children. I was taught not to judge on first appearance. As each student and their families came to get what they wanted to eat I would put a big smile on my face and say hi. There was one young man that stood out to me. He came up to me and very politely asked me what was inside of each sandwich. So I answered him. As i pointed toward each one some thing set him off and he became upset. I think it was the gloves that I had on. I took them off and it calmed him down. I used a napkin to pass him sandwich that he had picked out. My take on this was that he had something against the gloves. Maybe they reminded him of a bad experience in the past. His father later on quietly told me thank you. I felt good after that.I was thinking i might have offended the young man in some way. By the father saying thank you I was reassured that I didn't. As the afternoon went on more families and students came. Another young lady stood out to me also. Her disability was more noticeable. She was in a wheel chair and from what I could tell not able to voice what she wanted. I could have been wrong on that. The young lady that was assisting her was talking with her and able get exactly what she wanted from the food that was being served. When she came to where I was standing she signaled towards a sandwich she wanted and I gave it to her. She mumbled thank you, I replied with thank you and a smile. The DJ was playing some music the students were dancing and having a good time. This event showed me that just because they are disabled doesn't mean that they can't have fun in their own way. They can socialize and treat each other with respect. This experience also made me think about whether or not I could effectively teach students with special needs.

When I first contacted Life's Worc a few weeks ago I spoke with a nice young lady about talking with someone who can inform me what I need to do to offer volunteer work. The young lady transferred my call to the correct person. Later that week when i went to meet with the contact person I realized that the first person I spoke with on the phone had some kind of disability. I felt like a proud mother when I saw that she was able to maintain a job and do for herself. I finally spoke to the person in charge of personnel who arranged that I would be helping in the creative arts program on Saturdays. From what I understand about the program the students involved have therapy with music and do arts and crafts. I really don't know what to expect out of the program. I hope that it will be a good learning experience for both sides. I will helping out with their holiday party at the New Hyde Park Fire Department on December 1, 2012. I hope that I can be of some help to the program. I'm looking forward to this experience. When I finally start helping, I wish to be a positive influence for the students.