Some of the very best lessons needn't come from textbooks. And a program conducted in area schools by The Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter, NYSARC, is a good example of how life lessons can complement classroom instruction when it comes to the education of our children.

The program was developed by The Arc's education committee in conjunction with Utica College, whose students assist in presenting it to area high school students. Anne Van Strander, director of community development for The Arc, said that since its inception six years ago, the program has been offered in most all area schools.

That's a credit to both The Arc and area educators, who recognize the importance of raising disability awareness. While strides have been made through the years, there's plenty of work left to be done -- as indicated by recent concerns raised over locating a community residence in Frankfort for five people with developmental disabilities.

Programs like this help. Following a presentation last Thursday at Thomas R. Proctor Senior High School in Utica, Van Strander said: "(The students) quickly realized how much ability it takes to overcome a disability."

Students experience that by visiting stations that have been set up in the classroom, focusing on things like fine motor skills, mobility, vision, hearing and other abilities most take for granted. Students might, for instance, simulate a hearing disability by wearing earplugs or a vision disability by being blindfolded.

Such an exercise is important because it can help foster an awareness to level the playing field -- not the physical playing field, the mental playing field. People with disabilities aren't looking for pity, sympathy or special favors. They're simply looking for opportunities to lead the productive lives they are most capable of leading -- and the independence that comes with it.

But too often, fear and ignorance stand in their way. There was a dark period when people with disabilities were set apart from the mainstream and led to believe that they were not capable of functioning in a "normal" world. Caregivers, too -- loved ones or otherwise -- were provided few options, and as a result, many lives never had a chance to blossom. It's frightening to think of the talent that went untapped in that draconian world.

Fortunately, those dark days are gone -- and that's largely due to the heightened awareness that is manifested by programs like those presented by The Arc, United Cerebral Palsy and other agencies that not only help people with disabilities to realize their potential, but that raise awareness to the fact that such diversity truly is a blessing.

Those who don't take the time to learn about disabilities disable themselves. Van Strander said the school presentations have been very successful, and that she would like to see the awareness program expanded into the workplace. That's not a bad idea, and we would encourage area businesses to be open to such opportunity. By raising disability awareness, we make our community a better place for everyone.