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Westchester Arc
The Gleeson-Israel Gateway Center
265 Saw Mill River Road
Hawthorne, NY 10532
914.949.9300
info@westchesterarc.org
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Bob Smith Connects with Kids
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Westchester Arc Self-Advocate Bob Smith recently met with students in Westchester and Putnam counties in honor of Differences Day, an annual event that aims to help children understand a wide range of disabilities.
Bob, who has cerebral palsy, shared his experiences with third and sixth graders in Peekskill, Garrison and Haldane schools.
Students were impressed by Bob’s positive energy and intrigued by his Dynavox synthesizer—a tool that enables individuals with speech and physical disabilities to communicate through a programmable, computerized voice system.
The students empathized with Bob as he discussed overcoming the daily physical challenges of having a disability to become a successful writer and entreprenuer. They were inspired by his poetry and identified with his passion for movies and music—including rockband U2—which helped dispel common stereotypes associated with people having disabilities.
Students were so touched by meeting Bob, they wrote heartfelt thank you letters.
Here are a few excerpts…
- “Bob, your poems made me feel good. I would like to be your friend.”
- “Did you know that I like to write, too?
- You inspired me to keep writing!”
- “Bob, you showed me that a person can accomplish anything no matter what, and you shouldn’t look at the outside of a person, you should look at the inside.”
