David Garcia Project coordinator seeks to educate on disabilities through seminars

Jennifer Jordan does not get upset when she sees students with frustration.

In fact, the Bellevue senior sees it as the sign of a lesson beginning to grow and take root.

As the student coordinator of the David Garcia Project, a program run through the Volunteer Center at Central Michigan University, Jordan helps others gain a better understanding of what it is like to live with a disability.

She helped facilitate a session Monday — one of several throughout the year — for a group of about a dozen students. Each session includes activities for students to experience what it would be like to have a physical, learning, visual or auditory disability.

“The most rewarding part is seeing the expressions on people’s faces when they’re frustrated because they realize they can’t do something they do every day,” she said.

Promoting awareness

David Garcia was a Sept. 11 victim who suffered from an incurable eye disease. The David Garcia Project began in 2003 after a CMU student wanted to start a program that promoted disability awareness, and named the program after Garcia. The project is sponsored by Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.

Flushing sophomore Matt Kohler attempts to button a shirt with gloves on while Farmington Hills junior Jenna Eliassen tries to pin a diaper on a stuffed animal. The students wore gloves to simulate the difficulties of daily activities of individuals who have suffer from Cerebral Palsy or arthritis. Eliassen managed to pin the diaper on and Kohler was only able to get one button before giving up. "This is pissing me off," Kohler said. (Matthew Stephens/Senior Photographer)

Jordan wants students to keep an open mind about people with disabilities.

“Most students are fortunate enough to not have a disability,” she said. “It’s important for them to step into their shoes even if it’s just for an hour.”

Although this is Jordan’s first year working with the program, she has had past experience working with the disabled while participating in the Alternative Break Disability Site at CMU.

“I’ve always been passionate to work with disabilities,” she said. “I’m a huge supporter of the Special Olympics. I coach a team from my hometown.”

New Lothrop junior Amanda Wendling joined the project last year to understand what it is like to be disabled.

“My boyfriend has a disability, and just being with him opened my eyes and made me want to learn more,” Wendling said.

In addition to organizing the sessions and training the facilitators, Jordan said she looks for ways to bring the program to different areas of the campus and community as an educational tool.

“(The David Garcia Project) has given me a greater appreciation for what I have, and it’s given me a greater patience,” she said.

Farmington Hills junior Jenna Eliassen attended the session to fulfill a requirement for her HDF 100: Human Growth and Development: Lifespan class.

“I got a perspective on how hard it is (to live with a disability),” Eliassen said. “(I learned) just how difficult it is to have disabilities and to overcome them.”

China freshman Jiao Liang said he thought the David Garcia Project was an interesting experience.

“I’m just very lucky because I am healthy,” he said.

The next open session for the David Garcia Project is Feb. 23.