Understanding Our Students
IMAGO WORK
What are your dreams for the future?
OUR VISION
A sustainable, reproducible, locally run coffee shop and training center that brings people together to build and model inclusive workplaces and communities.
OUR VISION
A sustainable, reproducible, locally run coffee shop and training center that brings people together to build and model inclusive workplaces and communities.
What do you know about people with disabilities?
Who Are Our Students?
Imago Work serves neurodiverse students, who may have various intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Down Syndrome
Autism
Intellectual Disability
Build inclusive friendships.
“There is a terrible hunger for love. We all experience that in our lives - the pain, the loneliness. We must have the courage to recognize it. The poor you may have right in your own family. Find them. Love them.”
- Mother Teresa
Practice an inclusive attitude.
Respect: Use polite language as you would with anyone else.
Show kindness: Ask if they need any help.
No pity: We all have self-respect - no one wants to be pitied. Treat them as young adults.
Look for their strengths and interests: Look at their abilities!
Behaviors to Expect
Our students like to know what to expect and can feel overwhelmed by change.
Behaviors to Expect
Our students may make unexpected movements.
Behaviors to Expect
Our students may say unexpected things or make sounds.
If you can, keep going!
As long as you seek to be respectful, don’t take their behavior personally.
Engagement Strategies
Let someone with neurodiversity know what to expect. (“First we will listen to a speaker. Then we will give you a preview of the concert. They we will listen to and watch the performers. Then we can explore the instruments.”)
Stick to the plan. Changes can be hard for many neurodivergent individuals.
Provide a Schedule
Add visuals (pictures) to help students SEE the meaning when possible.
Use movement (like hand-motions) to help students engage their bodies.
Our students usually learn best when they can be ACTIVE learners.
Use Different Learning Strategies
Use direct language to give directions.
For example, instead of asking, “Should you be hitting the piano keys so hard?” say, “Use gentle hands.”
You can also say, “My turn to talk” and “We are quiet so we can listen to Minh.”
Narrate Expectations
Sometimes it is difficult to listen to a lot of words.
Also, find alternative ways for students to respond, like pointing to the correct answer, giving a “thumbs up,” drawing a picture, etc.
Use Less Words
We look forward to engaging the arts together!
Questions? Email us.
Ms. Kristen - kristen@imagowork.com
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