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Jason's First Day!, the newest resource from the OI Foundation, is a children's picture-book designed to be read to pre-school, kindergarten and first-grade children. Written by Valerie Busic, the mom of a school-aged child with OI, and beautifully illustrated by Jeff Meyers, it tells the story of a child with OI's first day of school, highlighting similarities as well as differences between Jason and the rest of the class. The book was written to help parents, educators and students feel more comfortable when a child with OI-- or any mobility impairing disability-- is introduced to the classroom for the first time.
The story in Jason's First Day! is followed by a 25-page guide for educators and parents. The information for parents and school administrators describes how to coordinate efforts when mainstreaming students with mobility impairments, making the first day of school more comfortable for the student, his/her classmates, and school personnel. It is followed by a page-by-page discussion guide to help teachers conduct a productive question/answer period with their students, and contains lists of resources for teachers, parents and school administrators.
Jason's First Day! makes an excellent addition to the home library, as well. The book is a great resource for parents wishing to explain OI to siblings or friends. The teachers guide is very helpful in preparing a child for school, and the discussion questions should help any parent have a frank conversation about OI with a child's siblings of friends.
The book is the result of more than 18 months of effort from dozens of parents, students, medical professionals, educators and school administrators. The Bright Start Story Book Advisory Council was formed to ensure the new resource was a comprehensive and effective as possible, both as an engaging story for childres and a resource for adults.
"The Council worked very hard to make sure this resource would be entertaining and educational for kids, and useful for educators and parents," stated Heller An Shapiro, Executive Director of the OI Foundation. "The Council carefully considered what type of OI, how to describe OI, and what equipment to feature in the book."
More than 12,000 copies of the books will be distributed free of charge to schools and public libraries over the next few months, with thanks generous grants and gifts from: The Braitmayer Foundation, the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, The Stirling Foundation, and the Devereaux Foundation.
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