Disabilities Program Helps Kids Find Their Strengths

By Claudette Langley

Catalina Magnet High School Multiple Disabilities teacher Elaine Tanner hangs out with Diaper Bank Program Manager Trishnak Trachsel at the end of the year picnic.

Catalina Magnet High School Multiple Disabilities teacher Elaine Tanner hangs out with Diaper Bank Program Manager Trishnak Trachsel at the end of the year picnic.

Catalina Magnet High School teacher Elaine Tanner doesn’t mess around when she sets her mind to get the best out of her students she gets it. Tanner is head teacher of the profound disabilities class at the school and her kids can’t help but catch fire with her around.

Catalina’s exceptional education program has three disabilities classrooms mild, moderate and profound. They are a trifecta of hope for the students they serve. Tanner emphasizes the importance of collaboration with her fellow teachers Teresa and Jackie and has tapped into a source of inspiration for her kids.

“My kids get to interact with the higher level students and it helps motivate them to have their peers as role models,” Tanner said.

The end-of-the-school-year picnic showcased how seamless this interaction can be and gave all the students a chance to show their stuff. Click on the photos below to meet some of the great people who make up the exceptional education program.

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Each child’s potential is considered and nurtured by this staff and the successes are many. Richard is a young man who went from being violent hard to work with case to being able to ride the bus on his own and to learn basic job skills.

This potential building has been aided by the school’s relationships with the Diaper Bank, according to Tanner. She said that before she began getting the supplies from the Diaper Bank last year she never had enough incontinence supplies for her kids.

However, now that she has an adequate supply for her students, some great things have happened, she said.

“I was able to potty train three of my students because I had enough diapers to keep them dry and get them used to that feeling,” she said. In addition, transitioning them to the pullups the Diaper Bank provides has helped them be more independent.

 

 

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