CARROLL COUNTY, Ga. -- An unusually high number of students and teachers have been reported absent from one Carroll County school for a second day.

Central Elementary School had more than 151 students and 10 teachers out sick on Tuesday. On Wednesday, 159 students and 5 teachers were absent due to a variety of illnesses.

Kindergarten classes are the hardest hit.

David Gurrero's 1st grader had the flu for a week.

"When he came back, his teacher was sick," said Gurrero. "Other teachers were sick. It concerns me."

A district spokesperson says the students are sick from a variety of illnesses including the flu, strep throat, and stomach ailments.

School system officials said they are cleaning the school building with extra disinfectant.

Vivian Nance works in the school cafeteria.

"We're keeping things sanitized," said Nance. "We're keeping the food checked and doing everything we're supposed to do."

ATLANTA -- Eight year old Ava Bullard is playing with her sisters, riding their bikes on their long country driveway. It is a simple act that defies those who said she would never talk, those who said she wouldn't function in the real world.

Ava was not a typical baby, or toddler.

Her mother Anna says, "You couldn't interact with her."

MORE | Complete coverage of The Autism Gap

Ava did not play with toys. Did not speak. Could not dress herself. Did not interact with her parents or sisters. Slept two hours a night. She was in her own world.

Anna says, "It's like she looked straight through me. She would just...it's like you weren't there, if you were in the room with her."

Anna Bullard took Ava from doctor to doctor for months. One doctor told the family Ava was 'just weird.'

CARROLLTON, Ga. -- Aimee Copeland is part of a University of West Georgia panel that discussed what it's like to live "differently abled."

The graduate student lost both hands, a leg and a foot to a flesh-eating bacteria in May. She recently teamed up with fellow students and UWG alumni to share insights on congenital and acquired disabilities.

The panel held its discussion on Oct. 22 as part of the university's DisABILITIES Awareness Day, which was organized by student and The Achievers president Hannah Perkins.

A recording of the panel's stories will be broadcast at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 19. To listen, visit westga.edu/thewolf and click "Listen Live."

Other panelists include Perkins, student Danielle Vincent and alum Justin Wilson. Honors College dean Dr. Michael Hester moderated the discussion.

Some questions answered by the panelists include: