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“The Teacher’s Guide to Combating Classroom Ableism” by Planbook was one of the articles that I found most impactful. I found it the most impactful because, before this article, I was not aware of the term ableism. Not only that, but I was not aware of what it meant and what it looked like in a school setting. Additionally, I also did not know what gatekeeper ableism was. As a teacher, I want all my students to feel equal and feel that they are given equal access to everything, I would never want to be part of an institution that partakes in gatekeeper ableism.

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Ableism, or discriminating against people with learning and living challenges, is a deep-rooted construct that has long undermined people.

Many school systems may be unknowingly promoting albelism and making it more difficult for students with physical and neurological differences to succeed.

Learning to identify and reduce instances of ableism in the classroom is one of the most important things today's teachers can do to promote more equal class environments.

How to Identify Albelism and Why it Matters

Identifying ableism - and what it looks like in the classroom - is the first step in preventing it.

As the organization Stop Ableism writes, ableist environments and societies are those in which approach able-bodied people are perceived as a normal standard. Consequently, people who deviate from that norm are excluded from having an optimal experience when accessing essential services, including education. The types of struggles faced by people who live with challenges can be physical or systemic in nature, yet barriers can also be created by the beliefs and attitudes of people around them.

Educators who understand and work to stop ableism help to also stop gatekeeper ableism in their school. Gatekeeper ableism is when a person or institution could make changes to accomodate people with physical or mental challenges, yet chooses not to, as writer Holly Smith points out. While such gatekeeping can be difficult to recognize in a school setting, it's important to understand that teachers are making accommodations for students all day long, and that many accommodations are in fact a necessity by law for schools that receive federal funding.

"Within the school environment, accommodations are the rule, not the exception," Smith explains. "The teacher who moves a child from a cold, drafty window is making an accommodation. The playground aide who keeps an extra eye on a bullied child is making an accommodation."

This perspective is important for overcoming a gatekeeper mentality. It demonstrates that there's no reason why students with learning challenges shouldn't be accommodated.

Another reason it's important to address ableism is because it hurts even able-bodied people. Living and learning alongside classmates from different backgrounds and with different abilities can be enriching in multiple ways, explains Lyndie Walker, co-founder and director of clinical services at Toneworks Music Therapy. Increasing your students' understanding of different abilities is important for ensuring everyone has a positive learning experience.

"Accessibility should be a priority of any organization that seeks to offer positive experiences for people, regardless of their ability level," Walker adds.

Understand Diagnosis and Context

Teachers who seek to create positive experiences for every student in their classroom need to first understand the ways in which each student is challenged - and how to accommodate them.

As the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) writes, teachers need to collaborate with parents and student aides to understand how a student is challenged physically or mentally. Such information is essential for offering instruction that allows the student to perform at their highest level.

The ASCD also points out that educators must work with families to ensure they're minimizing the impact of the student's disability in complementary ways. For example, if a family is teaching a student in home economics how to cook, special education resources shouldn't also be teaching the same thing. This extracurricular time could be better spent teaching the student how to play an instrument or make art.

Another way teachers can better accommodate students with learning challenges is to understand how instruction can be adapted. Parent Center Hub says that modifications can be made both to the material that is being taught and to how it is administered. Examples of modifications include giving the student more time to complete the assignment, putting them in a small group with others, providing an audio version of the lecture or allowing answers to questions to be given orally.

Use Inclusive Educational Content

Able-bodied students are accustomed to learning materials and depictions of characters that represent them. This isn't the case for students with learning challenges, however. Teachers can do their part to choose more inclusive educational content that embraces people with disabilities, says Keith Storey at Preventing School Failure.

One simple yet meaningful way to do this is to host educational events that celebrate the contributions and creations of people with mental and physical challenges, especially those from multicultural backgrounds. For example, a school could host disabled individuals who work as activists against ableism, suggests author Kira Rakova.

"For disabled students and those with mental illnesses, being able to hear about others' experiences can be incredibly validating and empowering," Rakova writes. "It is a reminder that they are not alone. For able-bodied and neurotypical students, understanding real experiences of disability and mental illness helps dismantle stereotypes and combat stigma."

Another idea is to host events that cater specifically to the needs and interests of students with neurological differences. For example, The Musical Autist hosts sensory-friendly concerts for Baltimore students that meet this criteria. These concerts are designed to optimize the experience by providing a range of accommodations, including the ability to use noise-reducing headphones, play with foam blocks or sit in a quiet room next to the concert hall. Students are also encouraged to get out of their seat and come close to the stage, or to sit beneath the piano.

"Credentialed music therapists and other trained volunteers help to facilitate these musical interactions so that family members and caregivers can relax and enjoy the performances," says The Musical Autist.

Resources for Teaching Acceptance

Using dedicated resources that teach students what ableism is can also help combat the systemic nature of such discrimination.

Teaching Tolerance has lesson plans available for introducing the concept of ableism to students. Such lessons will cover important aspects of ableism including how to talk about physical disabilities, how to identify movements for equity, and how to get students to think about their own experiences and knowledge with the subject matter.

Definitions, terms and concepts can also be taught using resources from the National Conference for Community and Justice. This bulletin includes a history of ableism and how it has been perpetuated, in addition to videos and handouts to enhance classroom learning.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also offers resources for teachers who want to help students not only understand ableism, but reflect on specific examples of it in everyday life.

When teachers and students collectively work together to learn why ableism is wrong, they can effectively implement change and take action toward a more accepting world.
Images by: Wavebreak Media Ltd/©123RF.com, Wavebreak Media Ltd/©123RF.com, auremar/©123RF.com

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The Teacher's Guide to Combating Classroom Ableism

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Ableism is an institutionalized problem, but teachers can educate themselves on how to identify and prevent this damaging construct.

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I selected this article because sexual harassment is a very serious topic, and it should be addressed in a school setting. Although teachers and administrators might find it uncomfortable to do so, the well-being of students is far more important. It is also important to remember that kids in schools inherit a lot of their morals and way of being. Therefore, if their thinking isn’t fixed early on, it can be damaging to them and others in the long-run. Addressing these topics, will only better the educational experience of every student.

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This article impacted me because it reminded me of the power our words have on our students. For example, if we tell a kid they are bad, they will start to believe it. Not necessarily because they are bad, but because we told them. As teachers, this should cause us to be very mindful with the words and how we decide to use them. This article encouraged me to use my words to empower my kids, as I will be using a lot of affirmations in my classroom. Let us remember that our words have the power to push students to excellence or to failure.

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This social media page is super helpful! It gives a lot of tips on all sorts of topics. I like how they are all from different sources. Additionally, this page gives information on super important topics educators should know, but may not, it can serve as a refresher for all educators. Lastly, I liked how the page gives tips on how to deal with students who may have learning disabilities, and its focus on the well-being of students.

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I absolutely loved this page, not only because of the presentation of the page but the overall content of it. This page belongs to a teacher called Ms.Poquette who is a 5th and 1st grader teacher. Her page is dedicated to giving tips to teachers. I really liked the way she decorated her classroom, which is helpful to me because I don't have a precise idea. However, seeing her classroom gives me more direction as to how I would want my classroom, I also really liked how she has encouraging posts relating with her faith. In addition, she provides decorating to learning tips that she has found helpful, and she gives credit to the person who originally came up with the idea. Therefore, by connecting with her page, it connects one with various other pages that are helpful and resourceful for teachers.

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What I liked about this Instagram page was how she was a second grade teacher. When I decided I wanted to become a teacher, all I knew was that I didn't want to teach high school. However, as I have continued on my schooling journey, I am realizing that I want to be an elementary school teacher, teaching grades 2-5. Therefore, this page allowed me to see what kind of things to expect as a second grade teacher. Not only that but Mrs.Mcclain provides her followers with a lot of fun tips and activities she does in her classroom.

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I selected this video because it was of the films that left me impacted. I had heard about the movie, and how it was based on a true story, but i had never watched it before. As a Chicana myself, it made me more grateful for the efforts of those before me made. It's so crazy to think how students would get punished for speaking their dialect. It's rewarding seeing how far we have come and the many programs that are now available to students.

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Thanks to my Fullerton educational experience, I have had the privilege to take multiple ethnic studies courses. Without a doubt, African Americans have had such a sorrowful and gruesome journey to freedom. Although slavery like in the old times is no longer prevalent in the United States, it has definitely evolved, unfortunately, mass incarceration is the modern day slavery. It was a very eyeopening documentary. It certainly showed the amount of work we as a country have to do.

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I loved this video because it was very informational. It is important that as a teacher we are informed on different cultures and their practices. Doing so will help students to feel more safe and comfortable, which will enhance their learning experience. Not only that, but videos like these help combat racism, prejudice, and stereotypes.

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Do All Muslim Women Wear a Hijab? ft. Fareeha Khan | Decoded | MTV

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1.) The first wow moment I had was learning how Hawaii was a stolen land, I had heard about it, but I had never really learned about it. I was surprised when I found out, before the invasion of the United States, Hawaii had a queen with its own system. I can see there is a need to teach student’s about the hidden history of America, I can also see the bad habit of colonizing America has.

2.) The second takeaway I had was being cautious with the kind of books I present in my classroom. I would have never thought damage with a children’s book could be done. Not only that, but this encouraged me to do2 further research on each book I present to my students. I want to ensure these books are benefiting my students, i don't just want representation, but accurate representation.

3.) The last takeaway I had was how to plan a lesson. It was definitely a very much needed experience. Like I had said prior, the lessons I had taught were always given to me. However, the last project exposed me to all that is needed to plan a lesson. Not only that, but how each lesson has to fit within the teaching standards of California. I also am thankful for the project because it exposed the type of teaching style I would use.