In connection with planning for our Spring Performance focused on movement and dance, MUSA’s Afterschool Program participated in the Muscular Dystrophy Association Hop-A-Thon. For a week straight, both Park and Barrett Afterschool Programs participated in lesson plans that were aimed at children to teach them the three core values of awareness, acceptance, and assistance when it comes to disability consciousness.
The free lesson plans that were sent to us from the MDA Hop-A-Thon focused on educating MUSA youth on disabilities and what they mean, specifically muscular dystrophy. The youth learned that people with muscular dystrophy, and other disabilities, are just like us, and that they can do the same things we can do, maybe just in a different way.
The specific examples the lesson plans gave were focused around a young boy named Trevor who had muscular dystrophy and had to use a wheelchair. It was explained throughout the week-long lesson plans that Trevor liked to do a lot of the same things MUSA youth liked to do, such as playing outside with friends and going to the mall or movies.
“We learned about Trevor and his disabilities, and how he can still do things,” explained Barrett MUSA student, Alexis Menefee.
Another component to the Hop-A-Thon was raising funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. For the month of March, both Park and Barrett collected any loose change staff, youth, and parents could find. Once the collecting was complete, Park accumulated $41.05, Barrett accumulated $89.28, and the grand total was $130.33.
“It was fun collecting money for the jar,” said Barrett MUSA student, Tiera Menefee.
At the end of the week-long lesson plans and month-long money collection, the final task given by the Hop-A-Thon was for youth at both Park and Barrett Afterschool to hop for a total of two minutes to prove what they had learned. Both Park and Barrett completed the task successfully, and had fun while doing it.
To see the video of Barrett Afterschool participating in their final hop, please visit MUSA’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MUSASV1.