The Port Washington School District continued the second year of its "Every School, Every Year" initiative this March in observance of Developmental Disabilities Month. Guest speaker Rohan Murphy visited six schools to speak with K–8 students regarding disability awareness and inclusion. Murphy, whose legs had to be amputated due to severe birth defects, is a former Penn State University wrestler and international powerlifter for Team USA who has been featured by ABC News, Sports Illustrated, and in a Nike commercial.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between the school district, the Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA), and The Ed. Foundation. During the K–8 assemblies, Murphy shared his history of adversity and demonstrated his athletic capabilities through hand-walking and push-up competitions. In addition to the assemblies, Murphy held a dedicated session and wrestling clinic for the student-athletes on the Schreiber High School and Weber Middle School wrestling teams.
"Our goal is to support district-wide disability-awareness and promote empathy, understanding and inclusion," stated SEPTA Co-President Jeanine Cummings. "We are honored to have Rohan Murphy join us this year. His compelling story and high-energy presence encourage reflection. We hope that students carry Rohan's message into their everyday lives and spread the word through their friends and families, fostering a more inclusive Port Washington community."
The program provided an opportunity for students and staff to build empathy and reflect on individual challenges. The Ed. Foundation provided the funding necessary to bring Murphy to the district through its creative grant program.
"As a partner in education, The Ed. Foundation is committed to funding creative grants that support teachers’ initiatives and expand educational opportunities for all students in the Port Washington public school district," said Lauren Edwards, President of The Ed. Foundation. "We are proud to partner with the Port Washington School District to bring Rohan Murphy to our schools to speak with students district-wide about disability awareness and inclusion."
Rohan Murphy engages students at Guggenheim Elementary.
Rohan Murphy with students at Weber Middle School.
Rohan Murphy selects a second grade student from Sousa to show the crowd how to do a push-up.
in addition to telling his story to Schreiber HS and Weber MS wrestling teams, Rohan Murphy also ran a wrestling clinic for the teams.
SEPTA co-presidents Krista Citrolo and Jeanine Cummings with Rohan Murphy.
