Nearly 61 million people in the United States have a disability.  Kentucky has reported that 26% of residents in Bell County are living with a disability. In many Kentucky counties, limited resources and education about disabilities may serve as barriers for healthy accessibility and engagement with their community and environment. 

As an innovative strategy to improve knowledge and understanding about disabilities and increase compassion for those who have disabilities, the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with Bell County Schools and Pineville Schools to implement Understanding Disability. This program uses storybooks to share information about a specific disability.

Through this program, participants learn about visible and invisible disabilities and how they may affect our interactions with others and our surrounding environment.   Participants develop understanding and awareness of how we can improve the lives of those living with a disability. 91 children grades kindergarten through third grade participated in this program. 

Through lesson activities and questions after the story was read:

85% of students shared ways to be kind. 

75% named ways to include others at school or other social situations.