On Monday, students in Karen Bakalarski's kindergarten at class at Gill Hall Elementary in the West Jefferson Hills School District set aside their school work in order to learn some life lessons.

Instead of handling flashcards, books and crayons, the pint-sized pupils were trying out crutches, wheelchairs, mechanical voice boxes, examining Braille books and learning sign language.

It was all part of a presentation called Building Disability Awareness sponsored by Easter Seals Western Pennsylvania.

And it wasn't just a lecture. It was a hands-on experience led by Tracey McDonough, an integration coordinator, and Betsy Smith, an integration specialist for Easter Seals.

"Our goal is to get the students to be accepting of disabilities at a very young age," Mrs. McDonough said.

The first part of the presentation was to introduce the students to each of the devices and explain how they help individuals overcome their disabilities.

They explained how people who have difficulty walking may wear braces on their legs and some children with leg braces may also have to wear helmets to protect their heads if they fall.

Mrs. McDonough asked the students to close their eyes to simulate blindness. She then instructed them to feel their hair, shirt and shoes.

"So even if someone can't see, they can feel with their hands," she pointed out.

She also asked the students to close their eyes while she spoke so they could realize that people who are blind can still hear.

Then, Mrs. Smith showed the children a mobility cane that is used by those with visual impairments, a cane that has a black handle, white body and red tip.

Mrs. Smith then demonstrated how a mobility cane is used. And, she showed how an able-bodied person can help a visually impaired person by offering to let him or her hold onto an elbow and then guiding them to their destination.

The women also showed the students a stuffed animal service dog and pointed out the harness with a handle around its trunk, instructing students to take note of it. The harness, Mrs. Smith said, meant the dog was a service dog and not simply a pet.

"Don't ask to pet a service dog, because they are doing their work," Mrs. Smith told the students.

She also explained that while the students can't take their dogs into a restaurant or school, service dogs are permitted to go with their owners.

The students also learned about a device called a SpringBoard Lite, a mechanical voice box of sorts that can be used by people who can't speak. The machine "speaks" words and phrases when buttons are pushed.

The students then helped their guests to demonstrate some of the equipment.

Hanna DuJordan, 6, demonstrated walking with wooden crutches and classmate Sami Garbowksy, 5, used a walker with wheels and later paged through Braille storybooks.

Luke Regna, 5, demonstrated a wheelchair, learning to use the seatbelt and footbraces before moving and Sami Garbowsky, 5, learned to use a walker with wheels and a seat.

Afterward the children were able to divide into groups and try out the equipment on their own.

Mrs. McDonough said the Building Disability Awareness Program started last year after Easter Seals was able to garner grant money from the FISA Foundation, the Wallace Hough Charitable Trust and the V. Kelly for Handicapped Children fund though the PNC Charitable Trust.

It has become so popular that its presenters are booked solid with about 300 presentations a year to schools and Scouts. Among the other places presentations were recently given were to Girl Scouts in Mt. Lebanon, Westminster Nursery School in Upper St. Clair and Jewish East Suburban Preschool in Monroeville.

First Published: March 11, 2010, 10:00 a.m.