Albania Gonzalez Reflection 2

 

💭Blog Reflection #2💭

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Welcome! In this blog I'll be writing a new reflection about the last class project which was about the several disabilities on our society and what did I learn from it.

Reflection on Presentations

For the start of this blog, I would like to mention that I really enjoyed working with my team again. Having worked together on the previous project, there was a level of affinity, and ease to the process that made it efficient. We each had different themes and views to bring forward, enabling our group to work together effectively. Especially with how much time and effort from those teammates who really poured into this presentation, it was extremely rewarding to see. 

This reflected their excellence in the amount of work they did for the research, the level of input their comments provided, and also their commitment to the project from start to finish. I am also including the commitment of the others groups that presented and did a great job, lifting their presentation to a great quality, and giving the entire experience a tone of professionalism.

Recently, our class embarked on a series of group presentation related to mental disabilities in our society. The three groups covered a range of significant topics as Anxiety, Autism, and Learning Disabilities, each of the presentation was highly informative in presenting a deeper understanding of these critical issues

I would like to begin with Group 3 presentation. Group 3 worked on Anxiety, the group explained the symptoms, causes, and how it is managed. Some members also shared about their personal experiences in the presentation and with whom I come to feel empathy due to similar experiences. The presentation was an enlightening exposition of the pervasiveness of anxiety disorders and the need to consider it as a critical issue that people suffer from. I was surprised to find out that anxiety disorders are widespread. Anxiety takes many forms, social anxiety, and panic disorders. The way the presentation elaborated upon how anxiety affects daily life and the overall well being of individuals was very poignant, emphasize the importance of awareness and support. Group 3 also talked about destigmatizing mental health issues and openly discussing anxiety in society. Most importantly, the students explained the necessity to share the burden of peers and not to bear the struggle alone.

The next one is Group 2. The members gave an interesting presentation on autism. They explained what autism is, how it is a spectrum, and some unique strengths and challenges of people with autism. Their presentation was quite general and covered several features of autisms in relation to behavioral traits, communication difficulties, and sensory sensitivities. One of the most important take-home messages is the understanding that autism is a spectrum condition. This means it affects individuals differently, with varying degrees of severity and a wide range of symptoms and abilities. This understanding is very important in the context of recognizing an individual with autism's individuality.

Members of group 2 went a step further in their research. Their effort to understand this topic from a variety of perspectives made the presentation rich and valuable for us the spectators. The presentation also emphasized the significance of a supportive environment that includes and values neurodiversity. It was said by some members that what is most important for a person with autisms is understanding and acceptance from society, teachers, and peers. It was also made aware of the different strengths and abilities of an individual living on the spectrum. Understanding these strengths is necessary to create a culture of inclusive recognition for the diverse abilities of people. A really inspiring presentation

And last is my group, which is Group 1. We choose Specific Leaning Disabilities as our topic, we covered several conditions, form ADD/ADHD to Dyscalculia. Each member researched a different disability, and we came together to make a comprehensive presentation. It was quite a learning experience, as we got to know not only the characteristics and challenges associated with these disabilities but also the strategies and resources available for supporting individuals who are affected by these impairments.

In my personal understanding during the process of this presentation I came to understand deeply the wide range of challenges experienced by people with learning disabilities. For example, dyslexia is difficulty with accurate and fluent word recognition, characterized by poor spelling. Dyscalculia refers to a difficulty in number related concepts, calculations, and performing mathematical calculations accurately. But specially in dysgraphia, which was the topic that I choose, I learned that the handwriting is impacted, and the fine motor skills are affected. Awareness of all these conditions made me appreciate the complexities and unique challenges associated with each of them.

 And to finish with this blog, the presentations also gave us a better insight into learning disabilities, autism, and anxiety, with an emphasis on how to show empathy, offer support, and acceptance. This project helped expand our knowledge but also assured the feeling of our community and belongingness in the campaign of mental health awareness. The role of early diagnosis, supportive environments, and inclusive practices were some key highlights of the presentations. The presentations also emphasized the importance of identifying the unique strengths of individuals with diverse abilities and validating them. As we move on, I am certain that the lessons learned will continue to impact our attitude and actions in a way that promotes a more inclusive and supportive community for all.