Mai: Hi, what's up? Why are there so many boxes in the library? Maria: I'm preparing some Christmas gifts for secondary students with disabilities in the school we visited two months ago. These are students with various visual, hearing, physical and cognitive impairments. Mai:Cognitive impairments? Maria:That's learning dificulties. Kevin: I have a neighbour who is blind, deaf and dumb, and needs a lot of help to get around. Maria: Well, you shouldn't use words like 'dumb' or 'deaf'. It's disrespectful. Mai: I agree. There are so many students with a disability who have talents and skills. Maria: That's right. And we need to help them to become independent, integrate in the community and achieve success at school. Mai: So what are these Christmas gifts? Maria: Last month, the Youth Union in our school had a meeting, and decided to start a 'Special Christmas Gifts' campaign to collect gifts for local charities. So far, the students in our school have donated more than 100 gifts. Mai: That's great! Can students from other schools join your campaign? Maria: Sure! A few other schools have already joined us. They have sent us textbooks, dictionaries, CD players, batteries…
Kevin:
I have an idea for a gift! A talking pen for learning foreign languages. Maria: Great idea! What a meaningful gift! Mai: Thanks, Maria. I'll talk to my classmates and see what we can do.
