Put yourself in the other person’s shoes to understand them better. This was essentially the objective set by an independent parents’ association and the teaching staff of the Jacques-Brel school. Last Friday, a day around the issue of disability was intended to raise awareness among children through various workshops. And to see the involvement of our young darlings, there is no doubt that it worked.
To feel concerned
Everything was born from a simple exchange between Carole Monniotte, director of the school, and Cécile, parent. Both are aware of the issue of disability through their personal journey. “I bathe in the question of disability every day, confided Cecile. I wanted to share that, to make everyone feel concerned. It is important.” So inevitably, the idea made sparks and different associations were therefore invited(1).
“Now you have to close your eyes!”. Faced with a “showdown” table, there are several of them practicing. “It’s a sport invented by a Canadian table tennis player who became blind”, confided Michelle, volunteer of the ASPTT Draguignan Handisport. A sport that is practiced by two, with their eyes covered, whether they have a visual impairment or not, on a rectangular wooden table. Objective: Listen to a ball made up of small marbles and send it into the opponent’s net. Not easy. Suffice to say that “but where is the ball?” flew…
A little further, the association La Chouette has set up different courses. With the help of an accompanying person who guided them by voice, the young people, masked, had to cross a series of obstacles: benches, chairs or other studs. Of the kind that a visually impaired person encounters on a daily basis. “They lose their bearings, smiled Valérie Menegatti, president of the association. They tell us that they no longer know where they are, they are astonished.“Like 9-year-old Jamie.” It’s weird, you can’t see anything…! I took the chair…” he confided in full experimentation. Before entrusting, proud of his achievements: “It is easier to sit in an armchair with armrests for reference, than on a simple chair.”
Here and there, suitable board games are laid out on tables. Next door, Philippe introduces the children to Braille, by writing them their first name.
Demystify disability
“Come on, let’s play! We defend!” Further on, the TPM armchair rugby club is emulated on the sports field. Led by Guillaume Mélenchon, there are a dozen of them trying out “quad rugby” or wheelchair rugby. For the former professional rugby player, quadriplegic following a neck shock during a France / England in less than 21 years, the cause is not trivial. “We are here to demystify disability”, he details. And clearly, it works. “They’re having a blast. You can see it in their smiles. They realize what it’s like to be on an armchair, in a playful way. They feel the pain in their hands to move forward.” And Louise, to come and confirm the thing: “I wasn’t expecting that at all. It’s physical, with a lot of contact, like in ‘real rugby’. And then we find the same team spirit. At first, I was afraid of jam my hands between the armchairs…”, but no sores in the end. Before summing it all up in a few words, from the height of its 10 years: “It’s good that we are shown all this, these people are not disabled, they are ‘normal’. Well, I didn’t really want to say “normal”, that’s not the word. They’re like us…”
1. Association La Chouette Varoise, ASPTT Draguignan Handisport, Rugby wheelchair club Toulon Provence Méditerranée., Handibou, and the Decathlon brand.
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