Accessibility event demonstrates day-to-day challenges of people with disabilities Parvaneh Pessian ppessian@durhamregion.com BROOKLIN -- Deanna Nedanis has watched her grandmother use a walker many times, but now she can also say she knows what it's like. The Grade 5 student at Meadowcrest Public School had the opportunity to step into the shoes of a person with a disability during an interactive event at the Brooklin library on Dec. 7. "It's been really interesting to see how other people deal with disabilities," said Deanna. About 50 students were split up into groups to try out activities at various stations simulating different types of disabilities, including mobility limitations, vision impairment and learning delays. "It was hard because I couldn't reach the books on the top shelf," said 10-year-old Sydney Racioppo, who had to make her way around the shelves to find a book at the mobility station. "I found it was a little easier with the walker than the wheelchair." Tyler Ginn, 10, on the other hand, found the walker difficult to use while wearing a pair of taped-up oven mitts on his hands to simulate the feeling of arthritis. "It kind of gives you pain every time you try to squeeze your fingers around something," he said. The event was hosted by the Town of Whitby's accessibility advisory committee to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 3. The committee assists council in developing strategies to identify and eliminate barriers for people with disabilities. "I think the younger we can start them being more aware of the challenges that are out there, not just for the disabled but also seniors, it's going to help create better public awareness in the long run," said Richard Turner, chairman of the committee. Over at the vision station, Ben Roger, 10, slowly stumbled his way over to a shelf to find a book while wearing scratched-up glasses. "Normally I could just go pick a book off the shelf with no problem but I realized how hard it is for some people who can't see as well," said Ben. "It was fun to see how other people move around and see every day." Many of the students said they have a family member with some form of disability and were already aware of some of the obstacles as they have one classmate who is hearing impaired and another who gets around in a wheelchair. "This is a good event because my classmates get to learn more about me," said Rob Forbes, 10, who has cerebral palsy. He is currently writing a persuasive essay on how to make Meadowcrest Public School more accessible. Reporter Parvaneh Pessian covers the town of Whitby for Metroland Media Group's Durham Region Division Brooklin students receive education outside classroom Jason Liebregts / MetroLand BROOKLIN -- Tyler Ginn, Ceara McLean and Grace Howes looked for books with taped oven mitts on their hands during the Town of Whitby accessibility committee's event to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities Dec. 7 at the Brooklin branch of the Whitby Public Library. Grade 5 students from nearby Meadowcrest Public School were among those who had the opportunity to par- ticipate in activities that demonstrate some of the day-to-day challenges faced by people with disabilities. ✁