With the $4,000 raised through a mini-grant, donations, and fundraising, Liberty Middle School’s Physical Education Department rented sport wheelchairs and facilitated adapted sports for eight days. This project aimed to enhance students’ understanding of cultural complexities and inclusion by allowing them to experience wheelchair sports firsthand. Students also learned about the importance of inclusion from Hope Incorporated.

To further support these lessons, the Counseling and Physical Education teams collaborated on activities focused on compassion and inclusion. These lessons aligned with the district’s Profile of a Graduate goals, reinforcing the values of empathy and understanding.

Surveys conducted after the program showed a notable increase in students’ awareness and appreciation for adapted sports. Many students reported a deeper recognition of both the importance of inclusion and the challenges that come with wheelchair sports.