Bellwood-Antis high school industrial arts teacher Mr. Robert Bateman has been working with students in his tech club on creating fidget toys for students in Mrs. Elder’s autistic support classroom.
This idea came from student seniors Jayce Quick and Cooper Lovrich, who felt fidget spinners would be a good way to help student who have sensory needs to focus better.
“We are still in the design stage, but we are leaning towards building some sort of octopus with tentacles that move, a snake that slithers, or a traditional spinner,” Bateman says.
There are other students working on this project, including Ezri Bumgarner, Paige Harpster, Dean Hoffer, Conner Mozley, Issac Palovich, Hunter Shura, and Addison Sparrow.
All of these students are working hard to get this done as soon as possible.
While it might seem like simply an act of kindness towards B-A’s special needs students, the project accomplishes several important goals, like learning to use the school’s 3-D printer.
“The goal with this project is to teach the students all phases of design and development,” Mr. Bateman said. “Also, since we just got the 3D printer this year we want to test the capabilities of the printer.”
For Mrs. Elder, the project will provide her students with much-needed educational aides.
“Fidget tools provide physical activity to improve concentration during other tasks. Everyone uses them for different reasons,” she said. “Some people use them to help with anxiety, or to increase focus.”
“Many of the students in my room use some sort of fidget throughout the day. We have a basket and a variety of fidgets.”
Mrs. Elder also likes the collaborative aspect of the project.
“Obviously, having more tools available for students is always a great thing,” she said. “However … anytime there is an opportunity for students to work together, I think that is beneficial.”
In all this act has many benefits and is another example of B-A students and teachers finding ways to bridge the gap been students in the regular curriculum and those in special education classes.
