Haldane and Garrison schools hosted visitors with a difference on April 10. Students in the 3rd, 4th and 6th grades at each school participated in the ninth annual Differences Day.

A student favorite, Bob Smith, made his third annual visit to each school. Despite his severe cerebral palsy, he is the "Right Thumb Poet", who uses a speech board to communicate. Capturing fundamental human experiences in his poetry and prose, his message resonates in the hearts and minds of local students. Sixth grade students enjoyed his presentation, while 3rd grade students had the chance to meet him after their hands-on experiences at various ability stations.

Cheryl Tamaino visited fourth grade students, along with her guide dog, Dean. She spoke to students about her experiences as a blind person and how she relies on Dean to be her eyes. Sharing the story of how she became blind after birth, she also showed students how she uses various tools to manage daily living, including her trick to identify paper money by using different folds for each denomination.

Students asked direct and thoughtful questions of both visitors and also of the volunteers who manned the five ability stations in Haldane's auditorium. Each year third grade students get the chance to experience various challenges in daily life for those who have a visual, hearing, speech, learning or motor disability. Differences Day helps students realize that everyone has unique talents and abilities.

All Garrison and Haldane third, fourth and sixth grade students participate in the event, which is sponsored by Common Threads, a joint project of the Garrison and Haldane PTA and winner of the 2006 Phoebe Apperson Hearst Award of Excellence from the National PTA. Differences Day receives financial support from the Garrison School PTA and the Haldane School Foundation. It also receives support from each school Administration and from the many volunteers who make the event happen each spring.

For more information about Differences Day, contact secondsat@aol.com. To volunteer for next year's event, cont act ginavannosdall@yahoo.com.