On Tuesday, Sept. 27, students in FYS 038 hosted a homecoming carnival at Ruby Van Meter (RVM) School, the special education middle school and high school for the Des Moines Public School System. Nearly 150 RVM and 21 Drake students participated in the event.

Drake students planned the 10 stations with interactive games and prizes, including face painting, pie toss, duck derby, and temporary Drake tattoos. Drake students made sure the stations were friendly to all ability levels and considered ways in which to adapt such activities. Through this project, Drake first-year students were able to explore, grow, and build by engaging with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Ruby Van Meter students were able to interact in meaningful ways will peers close to their own age in a fun environment.

In addition to the homecoming carnival, Drake first-year students are learning alongside these individuals with various disabilities through bi-weekly visits to Ruby Van Meter. Thoughtful reflection following these school visits remains integrated in the course through both in-class discussion activities and out-of-class assignments. These activities and interactions at Ruby Van Meter stimulate classroom discussion and allow Drake students to reach their course objectives by informing students of the various resources and services provided by the Drake/Des Moines community. Not only are students involved within the Des Moines community, they also strengthen their interpersonal skills in a different environment that Drake students may not generally encounter.

—Anisa Fornoff, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences