Youngsters gain insight on living with disabilities

In Burlington, queries answered

BURLINGTON - They drive, surf the Web, prepare meals, and attend their children's sporting events just like the rest of us - only differently.

That's the message members of the Burlington Disabilities Access Commission brought to Memorial Elementary School last week during the group's "differently-abled" program for second-graders.

"We want to help kids to not be afraid of people with disabilities," said commission chairman Kenneth Tigges, who became a quadriplegic after injuring his neck at age 16.

Made up of volunteers, most of them with severe disabilities, the Disabilities Access Commission initiated the educational program nearly 10 years ago, and each year visits the town's second-grade classes in all four elementary schools, as well as the Mount Hope Christian School, Tigges said.

The program is perhaps the only one of its kind in the state, said Jeffrey Dougan, assistant director for community services of the Massachusetts Office on Disability. "This group is pretty unique," he said. "I've heard a lot about them."

Aside from providing this service, the commission is active in making improvements throughout town to benefit those with disabilities. Through a state law the town adopted in 1998, panel members are deputized and trained by local police to help them document and report handicapped-parking violations. The commission uses money from the fines to fund access projects in town - such as "all accessible" equipment totaling $20,000 for the Francis Wyman Elementary School playground, "talking computers" for the blind at the library, a new elevator at the Pine Glen Elementary School, accessibility upgrades at the Burlington Ice Palace, handrails at the Town Common, and $15,000 toward the purchase of a wheelchair-accessible van for the Council on Aging.

Ultimate approval for funding rests with the local Board of Selectmen, which takes recommendations from the commission on projects it would like to fund. The commission is now pushing to raise the $100 handicapped parking fine to $200, a proposal selectmen will consider this summer or early fall, said Betty McDonough, its recording clerk.

During the hourlong presentation for Suzanne Siegel and Barbara Nelson's second-grade classes at Memorial Elementary last Wednesday, Tigges was joined by three other volunteers who shared how they live "differently" with their disabilities.

"I lost my sight 14 years ago from diabetes," Maura Mazzocca told the youngsters as she demonstrated how her seeing-eye dog, Jolley, assists her. The students cheered and clapped, impressed with Jolley's abilities in leading Mazzocca to the door of the library upon command. She showed the children other aids for the blind, including a talking color sensor that helps her with picking out and matching her clothing.

David Murphy, who also has diabetes, explained how he lost part of his left leg after it failed to heal from a bad bruise, as the second-graders passed around an extra prosthetic leg he had brought with him.

"Were you sad when you didn't have your leg?" Nisha Chhayani, from Nelson's class, asked Murphy.

"Well, I was at first, a little bit," he said. "Then, I wasn't anymore."

Mary Jane Fietze told the youngsters she lives with multiple sclerosis and makes her way around in a motorized wheelchair.

"This is not contagious. You can't catch it," Fietze said. "And nowadays, there are many more medicines to help people with MS, so don't get too worried if someone you know or a relative gets this."

Forty-three-year-old Tigges said he became a quadriplegic at 16 after he dove into shallow water he had mistaken for deeper water at Horn Pond in Woburn.

"When your parents tell you not to run around the pool, not to jump into the water, this is why," he said. "They don't want you to hurt yourself like I did."

While Tigges uses a wheelchair and will never walk again, he told the students he considers himself lucky, since he has some ability to move his fingers and arms, which allows him to drive and perform other tasks.

The second-graders cheered when Tigges offered to take them outside to see the specialized van he drives. Each waited patiently for a chance to climb aboard for a demonstration on how its button touch pads and remote-control steering worked.

Nelson, who has taught second grade at Memorial Elementary for several years, said the differently-abled program has been well-received year after year.

"After the presentation, I had the kids write in their journals about what they learned," she said. "Sometimes there is a lot of fear around people with disabilities. I think, now, many of the kids' questions have been answered and they can discuss things more openly. The group intrigued and inspired them."

Bella Travaglini can be reached at bellatrav@gmail.com.