Melody in Lyndeborough and Manchester, New Hampshire

J Lowton

United States

Lyndeborough and Manchester, New Hampshire
(Melody #007A1113)

Melody came to stay with me and my family in the southwestern mountains of NH. My name is Lilly and I'm five years old and live in a country home in a snowy and very small New Hampshire town. My mom is a Technology Specialist and works with different schools across NH. She works the most with schools in the city of Manchester. She brought Melody to visit two of the elementary schools in Manchester named Gossler Park and Parker Varney.

While Melody visited with me, we discovered how so many things could be difficult living in a snowy hilly country town without sidewalks or smooth spaces. We started to notice towns that had smooth paths and sidewalks to travel via wheelchair, places that only had stairs in the entry and activities that allowed for people with physical disabilities to participate. At the schools where Mommy works with technology, she said the students had discussions on what activities Melody could/ could not participate in and what parts of the schools she could not access. Mom said she thinks Melody was pleased at Gossler Park that the building was all on one story and there wasn't a single location that couldn't be accessed via wheelchair. She watched some students working on a Google Docs poem project but didn't visit any classes while there. Mom then took her to visit a 4th grade class at another school called Parker Varney. She was nervous at the second story while visiting Miss Jobel' 4th grade class but saw there was an elevator right by the classroom and the door to the outside playground that was smoothly paved. A great discussion happened in Miss Jobel's classroom (I call her Miss Kelly) on how their daily activities would be different if they had disabilities like Melody and what they could do to include her in things. At home, mom and I had looked at ways Melody could get around in snowy places. Because we live near the snowmobiling trails, we showed Melody how some families here have special enclosed carts attached to the back of their snowmobiles that children and others can ride in safely strapped inside. We took her everywhere and realized how many things could be difficult for her and were very happy when places made things accessible for her. I liked having Melody visit me and hope she has fun on her next stop when she leaves. Thank you for including us in your travels, Melody! Lillyanna and Jennifer (Mom) Lowton and Miss Jobel's 4th grade class from Parker Varney Elementary!