Building over barriers

Gunther Chaney, a recent graduate of Bonners Ferry High School, exemplifies determination and creativity.

Despite facing significant challenges due to his learning disabilities, Gunther's participation in Idaho's Student Transition Education Program and the supportive environment of Bonners Ferry High School enabled him to excel in woodworking. 

His remarkable project — a wooden man with articulating joints — stands as a testament to his hard work and the collaborative efforts of his teachers.

As part of the STEP program, designed for students with disabilities aged 18-21, Gunther was given the tools and support necessary to transition from high school to his future career. The program focuses on helping students develop employability skills and exposes them to various career and post-secondary learning opportunities. Through this program, Gunther received guidance in building a resume, filling out job applications, job shadowing, and obtaining future employment.

Gunther's journey in woodworking began with his enrollment in the Introduction to cabinetry class with teacher Francis Carlson in the fall of 2023. Recognizing Gunther's potential and creativity, his STEP teacher Kathy Rounsville collaborated with Francis Carlson to design an individualized course for him in the spring semester. This course aimed to highlight his skills in creative thinking and problem-solving, allowing him to modify and customize projects throughout the semester.

In his independent woodworking class during the spring semester, Gunther decided to design and construct a wooden man. This complex project involved creating various components that articulated similarly to the human body. Gunther spent countless hours designing, planning, prototyping, evaluating, and building the wooden man.

Standing 7-feet, 10-inches tall, the wooden man was constructed to be completely disassembled, and reassembled at any location. Each joint was meticulously crafted to move like its human counterpart: the head turns from side to side, the shoulders lift and rotate with the arms, the spine, constructed with individually moving vertebrae, supports the upper body, the pelvis and hips rotate and adjust for different postures, the legs, knees, and feet move as if the wooden man could walk, and the fingers and toes adjust and move exactly like a human's. The project required Gunther to use a variety of materials, including wood, plywood, screws, wood glue, and a single set of hinges to support the shoulders, as wooden methods were not strong enough to bear the weight of the arms. 

Each day in shop class brought new challenges for Gunther as he worked his way through the construction process. If he was struggling with an intricate component, he would put in extra class hours to work on the project to overcome the obstacle. 

In an essay he wrote about the wooden man, Gunther noted that “the tricky part was to make the thumb for the hand,” something that took him nearly two weeks to complete.

Everyone in the shop knew of his triumphs as he cheered and whooped loudly each time. As the semester progressed students in all levels of the woodshop classes observed Gunther’s success as he continued to build the wooden man. On the last day of construction, the entire school knew of Gunther’s success as he loudly and very proudly cheered to everyone about his work. 

Very rarely did he ask for my help on the project, his plan was all his own, and his problem solving was entirely self-driven. It was amazing watching him learn through this project, and exciting to celebrate with him when he finished.

Gunther created dozens of pages and drawings to construct the wooden man, all of his plans are his own original work.

“He is one of the most creative and intelligent individuals I have ever had the pleasure of working with,” Kathy Rounsville, STEP teacher at BFHS, said. “He is always able to explain himself in great detail, especially with drawings and pictures. He always wants to do well in school, and learn on his own in the classroom. He enjoyed working independently, and is extremely detail oriented. He is always optimistic about learning and about life, it was truly a pleasure to have him in class.” 

Gunther's wooden man, a project he had dreamed of for a long time, was finally brought to life with the support and guidance of his teachers. This multi-faceted project demonstrated his woodworking skills and creative vision. The intricate design and functionality of the wooden man earned Gunther admiration and recognition from his peers and teachers. Gunther's success in the STEP program and his accomplishments in woodworking have paved the way for his future. 

His story is a testament to the power of supportive education and personal resilience. Through the dedicated efforts of his teachers at Bonners Ferry High School, Gunther was able to overcome his learning disabilities and achieve something extraordinary. His wooden man project stands as a symbol of his hard work, creativity, and triumph, inspiring others to believe in their own potential regardless of the challenges they face.