The purpose of this simulation video is to ‘’step in someone else’s shoes’’. It’s a great experience for all of us to understand in a way, someone else’s mental situation. It is really important especially when we need/want to provide our help but also in moments that we should show our understanding in diversity. What we did and what tools did we use?

As we can see, there is an assistant who helps the person to create a Christmas ornament. The assistant provides step-by-step instructions ! She used two very important techniques:

1) Modeling ( do as I do ). Is a trying for imitation. The other person has to try to focus on her and to perform her movements in similar way.

2) Physical prompt ( I guide your body/hands ). A very important part of the assistance. When the person is not able to ΄΄follow΄΄ only by imitating her, she is there for him to provide help on the physical body. How can she achieve that? By touching the other person and placing her hands/body in the appropriate position.

We used some tools which are helpful and offer pleasure and interest to the other person ! The tools are the following:

1) Clay
2) Scissors
3) Rope
4) Rolling pin
5) Pattern molds
6) OUR GOOD MOOD!!!

Painting is a unique way of expression and creativity. People who draw capture their thoughts and feelings. Their paintings reflect their inner world. World-renowned artists at various times through art externalized their own perception of reality and the world. The same desire was cultivated by people with severe disabilities who cannot use their hand in painting since nothing can be a brake on willpower and determination.

People with physical disabilities develop a great talent. They are able to draw with their mouth and foot. Not only they are able to rise to this particular challenge but they largely excelled. This played a decisive role in mobilizing individuals to act upon their desire, to unfold their talent and to reveal that there is no obstacle to the willingness.

In this video a group of workers of a social welfare center that accommodates people with disabilities performs a simulation exercise for people with physical disabilities and more specifically for people who have no hands but can draw with their mouths.

Instructions:

• 1st STEP: All participants sit around a table and place their hands behind their backs.
• 2nd STEP: They use their mouths only to grab a marker from the table.
• 3rd STEP: When they manage to get hold of the marker they try to draw anything on their paper.

The process was very difficult and its purpose was to highlight the painstaking effort of these people who manage to create culture through their works of art even if they have limited physical skills.

Learning objective/rationale: The aim of this simulation is to highlight the importance of putting ourselves in the place of a people with hearing disability, so we can empathize the most these people and rise our awareness of their situation.
The tools you need:

1. A pair of earphones
2. A device (laptop, smartphone, mp3) where you can listen to music
3. A list of different words or phrases
4. Two people in total

Time: It’s up to you!

Instructions:
Participant no1: One of the two people that will participate in the activity should find a playlist with songs he likes and put his earphones on. Moreover, the volume must be high so that is impossible to listen what say people that are around.
Participant no2: On the other hand, the second participant will take the list with the words or phrases he wrote.

Time to play!
Now, the participant no2 will say a word to the participant no1 until the latter can find it (by reading participants no2 lips). In case the participant no1 face big difficulty to find the word he can say “next” and follow the same procedure with another word.

Learning objective/rationale: The aim of this simulation is to highlight the importance of putting ourselves in the place of a people with visual impairment, so we can empathize the most these people and raise our awareness of their situation.

The aim is to fill the glass without pour water outside the glass.

MATERIALS:

• A bottle of water
• A glass

INSTRUCTIONS:

First of all, you have to open the bottle of the water. Put your finger inside the glass until the height that you wish to drink water. Try to touch the mouth of the bottle in the glass and then pour until you feel the water in your finger.

Last step: Drink your water!

*Repeat as many times as you wish!