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Multicultural Literature Disability project! Helping shape the minds of our unique friends.

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Multicultural Literature Disability project! Helping shape the minds of our unique friends.

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Ashley Douglas
Haley Contreras

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Living with Disabilities and how to help them as educators. 

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Living with Disabilities and how to help them as educators. 

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Families who have children with disabilities have learned to adjust to daily obstacles. As educators, we need to be able to relate to our students and understand them. That starts with knowledge!

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Students with Disabilities: Special Education Categories

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Influential people who give our unique friends a voice. 

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Influential people who give our unique friends a voice. 

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Rex Hudler is a commentator for the Kansas City Royals and a former MLB player. He has a son, Cade, with down syndrome. He began a non-profit organization, "Team Up for Down Syndrome" aiming to improve the lives of people with Down Syndrome and see them achieve their full potential. On his website, Hudler wrote, "Cade might not be perfect to human eyes, but God made him perfect for me and my family. He's going to be a light for other Down syndrome children. I just know it. I just know it. I just know it." Such an amazing quote!

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Influential people who give our unique friends a voice.

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Influential people who give our unique friends a voice.

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Gary and Mary Cole. Gary is an actor who has a daughter named Mary and she has autism. He uses his voice and platform to help bring awareness to children with autism. He has done interviews with WebMD and is a supporter of "The Help Group." www.thehelpgroup.org

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Educational Books for K-2 that will help educators and students understand our unique students. 

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Educational Books for K-2 that will help educators and students understand our unique students. 

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1. "Uniquely Wired" by Julia Cook. A book about a boy named Zak and he has autism. He explains that he is the same as everyone else just his brain is wired differently where he has big ideas and is just like everyone else.

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Educational Books for K-2 that will help educators and students understand our unique students. 

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Educational Books for K-2 that will help educators and students understand our unique students. 

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2. "Who Are You? Ella The Enchanted Princess" by Rosaria Calafati. A book about a princess who was born with no hair and lives in a castle guarded by mirrors. She has a beautiful room with all the dress up stuff a princess could want and a special mirror. She wanted to go out but was scared to leave her room because of her appearance. This book is a great way to introduce to our students that we all look different and we should be friends with everyone for who they are not for their appearances.

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Educational Books for K-2 that will help educators and students understand our unique students.

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Educational Books for K-2 that will help educators and students understand our unique students.

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3. "The Pirate of Kindergarten" by George Ella Lyon. A book about a girl named Ginny who is in kindergarten. She has trouble seeing due to a vision problem where she sees double everything. Her parents take her to an eye doctor who prescribes her with an eye patch. To help her adjust to wearing it she turns herself into a pirate. This gives her the confidence to go to school and be a normal kid. This book can help students who are going through a similar situation. It will also teach students to be more accepting to our friends. I love how Ginny developed courage by giving herself powers of a pirate.

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Education Books for 3-4 that will help educators and students understand our unique students.

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Education Books for 3-4 that will help educators and students understand our unique students.

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1. "Thank you, Mr. Falker" by Patricia Polacco. Trisha was so excited to learn how to read when she started school. Things soon took a turn for the worse when she found herself unable to do so. Other students called her a "dummy" and laughed at her. This only made her struggle harder. When she entered the fifth grade, Mr. Falker realized that she simply learned in a different way due to her dyslexia that had done unnoticed. He then inspires her and helps her reach her dream to read. This book is a beautiful reminder that educators hold so much power in helping our students excel. It is also a reminder for students to be understanding instead of belittling.

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Education Books for 3-4 that will help educators and students understand our unique students.

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Education Books for 3-4 that will help educators and students understand our unique students.

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2. "Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah" by Laurie Ann Thompson. Emmanuel is unique because he has a deformed leg. He is looked down upon by many kids. His mother is a huge inspiration in his life and motivates him to live fearlessly. Emmanuel became a hero as he never gave up. He hopped to school, learned to play soccer, and eventually left home at the young age of thirteen to help his family put food on the table. He continues to spread his message today. This story is inspiring for students and teaches them that disabilities do not hold a person back from leaving their mark for others to follow.

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Educational Books for 3-4 that will help educators and students understand our unique students.

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Educational Books for 3-4 that will help educators and students understand our unique students.

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3. “The Seeing Stick”, by Jane Yolen. Hwei Ming is a young girl who lives in China. She lives life in a different way because she is blind. Her father, the emperor of Peking, was determined to give her sight. A man comes to their home with a “seeing stick”. When he touches her with it, she does not gain sight as we know it. With that being said, she learns to see in her own way. This book is such a beautiful example of taking a disability and turning it into an ability. Students will love this book as it opens their minds to new ideas and a new way to view disabilities.

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Educational Books for 5-6 that will help educators and students understand our unique students. 

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Educational Books for 5-6 that will help educators and students understand our unique students. 

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1. “Song for a Whale”, by Lynne Kelly. Iris is a twelve-year-old girl who is deaf. She becomes intrigued with a whale who has a very off-pitch tune. The whales cannot communicate with him like they can the other whales. Iris feels a connection with him as she is unable to communicate the way the other kids do. She must find other ways to converse. This tale is a wonderful illustration of how we all feel the need to fit in and be loved. Iris knew the whale needed this and offered him kindness. This teaches students to always be kind to others and find a way to include them.

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Educational Books for 5-6 that will help educators and students understand our unique students. 

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Educational Books for 5-6 that will help educators and students understand our unique students. 

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2. “Just Under the Clouds”, by Melissa Sarno. The main character in this book is a girl named Cora who has a little sister, Adare, who is disabled. Cora faces several obstacles in this book including homelessness, her father’s death, and taking care of her sister. They find a tree they call the “tree of heaven” that puts them on a path that eventually saves them. I think this book is perfect to use in the classroom since many students have siblings or family members who are disabled. They might feel alone or as if no one else understands. It is important that they feel understood and valued.

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Educational Books for 5-6 that will help educators and students understand our unique students. 

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Educational Books for 5-6 that will help educators and students understand our unique students. 

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3. “Save Me a Seat”, by Sarah Weeks. Ravi is not only new to school, but new to America. He is an Indian boy who does not quite fit in. He meets Joe, a student who also does not fit in since he has APD (Auditory Processing Disorder). Although they are quite different, their common interest to seek friendship and protection from the school bully, brings them together. They take on several obstacles but ultimately learn the true meaning of how to be a good friend. This book is a great tool to use when teaching our students about bullying. It also shows them that disabilities do not prevent students from finding common ground. Everyone is worthy of friendship.

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It takes a special person to be an educator. You have to have a huge heart, patience, and understanding. Those who work with students that have disabilities, you need to know how to understand them. First, no child should ever be addressed by their disability. They are just as unique as everyone else maybe a little more. Being born with a disability doesn't defy you it's just a part of who you are and what make you special.

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A great and interesting thing about being an educator is being able to take subject matter and turn it into a fun project.

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A great and interesting thing about being an educator is being able to take subject matter and turn it into a fun project.

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1. For example, working with a student who has a communication barrier, you can read a book and use a sound board where you can use pictures to represent the content in the book. The way it works is you ask a question and they push the button to answer the question. You program the buttons to say the word, make the animal sound, or count the number. The possibilities are endless. It gives the students confidence and helps you to understand their learning needs.
2. Focus on them and how they work mentally and physically. Create activities that showcase their uniqueness. Such as, getting to know me project that allows them to turn themselves into super heroes, or a puppet show, or a music concert. By allowing them to completely comfortable and confident in their skin will allow us to learn from them.