Activity
Planning a Special Event
Working through the steps of planning your own event can be exciting and motivating!
This activity has been revised and was originally created by Charlotte Cushman and published in the Perkins Activity and Resource Guide (1st edition, 1992). The second edition is available for purchase.
Visually impaired students need to be taught the skills that will allow them to participate as fully as possible in the planning of school and home events. This activity will teach them to engage in cooperative problem solving, anticipating needs, and participating in a group activity. It also reinforces sequencing skills. Lessons include Social Skills, Independent Living, and Recreation and Leisure.
Chart or checklist
- Ask students what activity they would like to plan as a group. This could be a special class outing to a restaurant or event, a shopping trip, party, etc.
-
Once an activity has been agreed upon, ask students to sequence the steps that will be necessary to plan the event. Make a checklist or chart which is accessible to everyone (i.e. print, braille, tactile symbols). The checklist might include some of the following:
- What: Name the activity.
- Who is going?
- When: Choose a date. When is convenient for everyone?
- Whom do we need to notify? (parents, principal, cook, residential staff)
- Transportation: How will we get there?
- Cost: How much money do we need and where will we get it?
- Medical considerations: Is it wheelchair accessible? Special diets? Medication? Physical restrictions?
- What to take: Is any special equipment required? (e.g. roller skates)
- Do we need a contingency plan? (e.g. rain date, what if someone is sick?)
- Do we need to wear anything special? (e.g. bathing suit)
- Invitations. (by mail, phone or in person)
- After the checklist has been written, have the group decide who will be responsible for each step. When everything has been checked off, you are ready for your event.
Individual students may want to start by planning smaller activities, for example, inviting a friend for lunch.
