Hi everyone, my name is Tessa and I am Connecticut’s 2026 Kid Governor. For those of you who don’t know me yet, my platform is Everyone Belongs. It’s about inclusion for students with disabilities. For more details, check out my main page and my first blog post. It took a long time and lots of hard work to get where I am now, and I am very proud to represent all of you.
March is a very important month. It is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. During the month, it is important to spread awareness about disabilities.
Many of you might be wondering, “What is a disability?” There are different types of disabilities. The ones we probably think of first are physical disabilities, such as the loss of a leg or an arm. These are often noticeable, and we can probably tell if someone has one or not.
However, this isn’t the only type of disability. There are developmental disabilities that affect your brain, like autism, which is where a brain grows and processes the world differently, or Down Syndrome. Kids with Down Syndrome may take longer to talk, walk, and learn new things, but you should treat them like everybody else. In total, a disability is something that affects a person’s brain or body a certain way, so they might have to do things differently than others. However, this does not make them less of a human being.
One way we can help kids with disabilities is to treat them with kindness. Be an ally, not a bully. You don’t have to be their best friend for life, but you should always be nice. Once in a while, check in on them. If you see bullying, report it. Don’t join in.
Also, don’t forget about my poster contest! It is open to all 5th graders across Connecticut, and the theme is “In what ways do you and your family welcome and include people with disabilities, so that everyone feels happy, safe, and like they belong?” Artwork and permission forms must be submitted by March 31. More details are on the Kid Governor website.
I hope you all will help include students no matter what they look like or sound like. If you have ideas to share with me or are making a difference in your community, you can email me at Tessa@CT.KidGovernor.org.
Remember to be inclusive to everyone!
Theresa (Tessa) Hallinan
2026 Kid Governor
Green Acres Elementary School
North Haven