More than 10,000 Maine schoolchildren understand more than most people do about living with a disability, thanks to the work of a southern Maine organization with a statewide mission of reversing public ignorance and stigma.

The Jeremiah Cromwell Disabilities Center, headquartered in Portland, is dedicated to elevating children’s understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities. In elementary and middle school classrooms throughout the state, staff from the organization lead youngsters in lively activities and discussions aimed at helping them accept anyone who’s “different” as worthy of the same friendly respect and inclusion accorded – ideally, anyway – to all their peers.

“The fact is, there isn’t a public school classroom you can walk into without finding at least one child with a disability of some kind,” said Jamie Kaplan, the organization’s co-founder and executive director.

Pausing Tuesday in his preparations for a major fundraiser scheduled for later that evening in Falmouth, Kaplan said disabilities of one sort or another – physical, developmental, emotional, behavioral and learning – affect nearly everyone. And, political correctness notwithstanding, Kaplan said people with disabilities, along with their friends and siblings, still are routinely subjected to rejection and social stigma.

“I don’t think that our generation has done all that well at reversing negative attitudes,” he said.

For the last two years, the Cromwell center has attempted to counteract those attitudes by reaching out to youngsters as early as third grade, demystifying the challenges of living with a disability and encouraging pupils to be friendly and fair with all their classmates. While empathy is one goal, Kaplan said, children in the program don’t spend a day confined to a wheelchair or try to navigate the classroom with a blindfold. The focus is more on team activities that make use of each person’s capabilities and on building trusting relationships, he said.

“We don’t tell them what they’re there to learn,” Kaplan said. “The kids do the work and discover the principles on their own,”

Schoolchildren in Maine communities from Acton to Veazie have participated, with new schools signing up each year and most requesting repeat visits. In the 2005-2006 school year, about 6,800 pupils from 50 different schools took part.

Though the educational programs have been presented to some middle-schoolers, Kaplan said younger pupils are the primary target group. “We’re trying to combat stereotyping and negative attitudes that can develop as early as preschool,” he said. “It’s important to reach these youngsters as early as possible.”

The entertaining, interactive sessions are offered to schools free of charge, thanks to the support of individuals as well as private and public foundations, Kaplan said, so Tuesday’s fundraiser was key to the program’s future. While the banking, insurance and investment corporation TD Banknorth assumed lead sponsorship for the event, more than 20 other Maine-based individuals, foundations and businesses, including the Bangor Daily News, also provided support.

Bangor Daily News publisher Richard Warren serves on the center’s board of directors.

Donated auction items included both rustic and cushy vacation getaways, art, tickets to sporting events and sports collectibles. Retired Boston Bruins ice hockey legend Ray Bourque, a former NHL All-Star, was expected to be on hand as well, representing the organization Celebrities for Charity.

Kaplan expected about 200 people to attend and that the event would raise between $40,000 and $50,000, or about one third of the estimated $130,000 it will cost to provide the Student Disabilities Awareness Program in the 2006-2007 school year. Kaplan said other private donations and grants will be needed to make up the balance.

Private gifts have also enabled the Cromwell center to implement its other primary mission: donating a hand-picked selection of 30 books about disabilities to public libraries across Maine. The 15 titles for adults deal with topics from autism, brain injury, cerebral palsy and down syndrome to Fragile X syndrome. Children’s titles explore a similar range of disabilities.

Gov. John Baldacci was expected to speak at Tuesday’s fundraiser. In prepared comments released before the event, the governor praised the work of the organization.

“The Cromwell center represents everything we want in Maine – an innovative and unique way of doing things, new and different ideas that have a positive impact on our children and that will help to make Maine an even better and kinder place for all people with all kinds of abilities,” Baldacci said.

For more information, visit www.cromwellcenter.org.