Grade 4 students at King School received a powerful lesson in empathy, resilience, and advocacy during a visit from alumnus Phillip Magalnick K’84, who is visually impaired, and his wife, Honorata Kazmierczak. On November 15, the couple met students to discuss disability rights, advocacy, and their experiences living with vision loss.
The visit aligned with the student’s current unit on differences and abilities. The lesson emphasizes the importance of focusing on individuals rather than their disabilities.
“We thought it would be a great opportunity to have Phil and Honorata come in and discuss living with a visual impairment and how they navigate life,” said Grade 4 teacher Rebecca Keough. “We put a huge emphasis on how disabilities do not define a person, and this message was passed on from them as well.”
Magalnick was in Grade 9 when he was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a genetic eye disease that causes progressive vision loss. As he told his story, students listened intently and asked numerous questions. Magalnick said the safe and supportive environment he experienced at King was instrumental to his personal growth.
“It was wonderful being back on campus, sharing not only my experiences as a former student but now as someone who is blind and navigates the world a little bit differently,” said Magalnick following the visit. “We were very impressed with the thoughtful questions asked during our time together.”
In addition to the lively discussion, students felt braille books, saw examples of Barbies representing different disabilities, watched Kazmierczak read a printed book using her phone, and learned how to create symmetrical illustrations without looking at their paper. Magalnick and Kazmierczak also educated students about the training and value of guide dogs, showing how their canine companions, Chloe and Cari, help keep them safe when navigating the world.
The visit reinforced students’ growing understanding of empathy and inclusion.
“I think that having a guide dog is a great thing that can help you if you have a disability,” shared Margot Villalong ’33. “I also learned that a phone is a great way to help you.”
“I learned that if you have a disability, it does not mean you can’t do anything,” Kevin Ding ’33 remarked.
The special presentation complimented previous lessons.
Before the visit, Grade 4 classes toured King’s campus to learn about its accessibility features and discussed ways to make it more accessible. Students studied different learning styles and took a test to determine if they were more comfortable as auditory, kinesthetic, or visual learners.
Recent language arts studies have centered around the book “Rules” by Cynthia Lord. The story follows a young girl, Catherine, growing up with a brother who has autism. After reading the novel, students brainstormed their narrative stories featuring characters that relate to them in the classroom and how they overcame obstacles. Keough and Grade 4 teacher Katherine Baum have also introduced the concept of a story arc, including rising actions, climax, and resolution with their classes.
Later in the year, the students will visit the Prospector Theater in Ridgefield, a local cinema that employs people with disabilities, to observe workplace adaptations. Keough expressed excitement about how these lessons would shape her students’ narratives. “This visit was an extraordinary way to connect their learning with real-world experiences,” she said.
“Disability advocacy, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, and the rights of those with disabilities have become our true passion,” said Magalnick. “Sharing that with the next generation of Vikings was both humbling and promising.”