CISMAA students team up with The Arc Westchester for unique learning experience

  • Teacher lectures students in a classroom.
  • Student helps client fill out forms.
  • Two women at a table looking at papers.
  • Two females in a medical office cubical.
  • A student helps a client make a phone call.
  • A student checks a client's vitals.
  • A student checks the vitals of a client.

Students practice real-world scenarios to support those with disabilities

Computer Information Systems & Medical Administrative Assistant (CISMAA) students on the Southern Westchester BOCES (SWBOCES) Valhalla campus were visited in mid-March by clients of The Arc Westchester, the largest agency in Westchester County supporting children, teens, and adults with developmental disabilities, including individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. The purpose of the trip was for CISMAA students to learn how to properly assist those visiting a medical facility and for the clients to gain a new sense of independence.

“I explained to the clients that they were here to help the students out and that I know they know how to do this, but we’re going to act like we don’t,” said CISMAA teacher Jason Poniatowski. “They got a kick out of that and had a great time playing along.”

Students were paired off with their clients, who ranged in age from approximately 23-29 years old. They went over in detail how to schedule appointments on the phone and then practiced how to correctly fill out intake forms.

“We helped them learn how to fill out medical papers. I was paired with one person, and it was a lot of fun,” said Jordan Stevens, a senior at White Plains High School. “I enjoyed the phone part, they pretended to be someone else as if they were calling a doctor’s office. We had a script and came up with fake names for them to use. They enjoyed getting to be someone else.”

After intakes were complete, the students checked vitals, pulse rates, breathing rates, and oxygen levels. They then taught their clients how to check vitals. 

“Everyone had such a great time that we scheduled them to come back in April. It was an opportunity to learn from one another,” said Mr. Poniatowski.

The Arc is made up of more than 700 employees who provide more than 2,000 individuals throughout the county with a broad range of innovative and effective programs and services designed to foster independence, productivity, and participation in community life.