Special ed runs shop with help of friends

The shop, run mostly by students with disabilities, started last year.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The success of the Raider Spear It Shop at Warren G. Harding High School can be attributed to the eight students in the school's multihandicapped program who staff it, with an assist from the rest of the student body.
The Spear It Shop, where students and faculty can buy T-shirts and other clothing with Harding logos or exchange dollars for change, started last year.
"They make $300 in change a day and do 40 to 50 transactions," said Darla Banks, teacher of the students with disabilities.
Disabilities vary from quadriplegia (total body paralysis from the neck down) and paraplegia (paralysis to the lower half of the body) to visual impairment.
"Everything our students do here, they learn from a script," Banks said.
Laminated posters in the shop and by the telephone spell out how to greet customers. Students who are nonverbal use devices with pre-recorded messages to telephone customers and notify them when an order comes in.
Assembly line
On Thursday mornings, the students make popcorn and deliver it to classes.
"We have an assembly line for the popcorn," said Banks, who gets assistance in the class from three full-time aides.
Each student is assigned a job. Some pop the corn, and others put it into the paper bag. Tracy Zame folds the bag to keep the popcorn hot, and Aimee Lowe staples the bags closed. Banks accompanies other students who deliver the popcorn to the classrooms.
Students from other Harding classes also chip in to keep the operation afloat.
Seniors D.J. Richards and Jessica Hall are designing a device to help Ali Provitt, one of the students in the class who uses a wheelchair, feed himself. Both girls are on the school's robotics team.
"We volunteered to do it," D.J. said, adding that their shop teacher is helping.
"I just couldn't imagine being my age and not able to feed myself," Jessica said.
Putting the skills of the students to good use also helps save the school money, Banks said.
"We're utilizing the skills of regular education students to help with the needs of special education students," the teacher said,
Promotions
WCSN, the student television station, promotes products available at the shop, said Avan Odom, a senior.
Sophomore Erin Straniak designed the pamphlet that details the products for sale. The flier promoting the shop's wares that will be included in city water bills is the work of senior Jenn Stroup. Both girls did the work in the school computer lab.
Dillon Fishel, a junior who plans to pursue a career in computers, developed the shop's Web site that is linked to the school's Web page.
"It lists the four subcategories and pictures of what's available: Shirts, headgear, pants and accessories," Dillon said, adding that it took him about a day to complete the page.
Joe Discerni, a senior, created the designs for many of the shirts and other items available at the shop.
"It's a combined effort," Banks said.
"We couldn't do half of what we do without the help of the other kids that contribute," she added.