International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Pupils at St Peter’s School, York, have been focusing on hidden disabilities this week to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDWPD) on Friday 3 December.

Pupils and staff have engaged with a range of events and activities designed to raise awareness of often hidden disabilities including dyslexia, dyspraxia and autism.

On Monday 29 November, pupils at St Peter’s 2-8 enjoyed an assembly hosted by Commonwealth and Invictus Games Competitor Sean Gaffney followed by a morning of sports activities in the St Peter's School Sports Hall. Sean was involved in a freak accident in 1999 while preparing for the Royal Tournament which involved him having to undergo 25 surgeries and resulted in a leg amputation. Since then, Sean has also battled cancer twice but through grit and resilience has competed in both the Invictus Games and Commonwealth Games.

Pupils at St Peter’s 8-13 had a special assembly on Friday 3 December to raise awareness of IDPWD and will be focusing on invisible disabilities in their PSHE lessons next week (5-11 December).

Finally, pupils at St Peter’s 13-18 have been developing their understanding of different types of hidden disabilities in their Lessons for Life and Form activities this week. On Wednesday 1 December St Peter’s 13-18 pupils listened to an address by a teacher and Fifth Form pupil, who explained how dyslexia has impacted their lives, and the school also organised a non-uniform day on Friday 3 December in aid of Mencap, to raise awareness of IDPWD.