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Disability Awareness is educating the public on what disabilities are, specific types of disabilities that exist, how to talk to/interact with someone who has a disability, and other helpful information

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While the US has been really good at spreading disability awareness, more needs to be done. There are still so many examples of people with disabilities being treated unfairly, not having a job, or not having resources. More places that accept people with disabilities need to be opened, and more people need to be aware of all different kinds of disabilities. But most importantly, people need to learn to see past disabilities, and just give people what they need if they need help with something, as well as appreciate their strengths.

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My brother has autism, so I have grown up around him and many other kids with disabilities. And while I have grown up in an accepting community, I can’t help but notice the people that stop, stare, and whisper negative things about my brother. It makes me angry that people just gawk at him, instead of just seeing him as a regular person and moving on. I am also currently studying to be a special education major, so I will be working with individuals with a whole array of disabilities for the rest of my career. I never saw my brother and others as people who should be avoided or pointed out in a crowd. From a young age, I explained to my friends and other people that my brother has a disability, and that he is just like the rest of us. Amy Morin states in her article, "How to talk to kids about disabilities", that it is important to educate kids on "what is wrong" so to speak, but not fixate on it, nor hide parts of it. Children should understand that their peer may be different and need help from aids, but they can learn together.

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I was made aware by my EDA teacher about an autism program on campus. It is called DUB-C Autism Program, and students in the program receive help in self-care, employment application and opportunities, executive functioning difficulties, apraxia, social skills, and more. They go out in the community and socialize, as well as have one on one sessions and group sessions with peers who also have autism. I think that this program is excellent, and I also think it should be expanded. I think "typical" students could join DUB-C to help out and learn about and from individuals with autism. It would be like Best Buddies, which is also on campus, but be a part of the educational program as well. If students joined, they could teach others about autism, spread awareness about autism and what it really is (since it is often misunderstood and misrepresented), and have events that both engage WCU students and spread awareness at the same time. With autism becoming more and more prevalent, it is an important disability to become aware of.
Some of the engagement opportunities could be to have seminars where the students with autism either talk, spell, or communicate their experiences living with autism, and living with autism on a college campus. Hearing people's direct experiences would be incredibly touching and eye-opening. There could also be social events such as dances or movie nights to get the students with autism more included in the "typical" population. Lastly, there could be events in town where DUB-C students interact with the West Chester population, and the people who live in town can become accustomed to seeing people with disabilities in their neighborhood, which in turn, will spread awareness and grow an accepting community.

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Why should teachers be aware of students with disabilities?

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Why should teachers be aware of students with disabilities?

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As we study to become teachers, we have all heard the term "inclusive classroom". This means that in a group of students, there is one or more students that have a disability. Wether it be a learning disability or a developmental disability, mild or severe, teachers need to learn about the disability and the student. This way, they can create a learning environment suitable for all types of students. The Department of Education (2022) has strict regulations and laws dictating this, such as "No Child Left Behind" Act of 2001. Every child has to be offered an education and no child can be excluded from it regardless of disability.
I believe that it is not only important for my fellow teachers to learn about, but everyone as well. This will create a more welcoming community all around, and have a positive outcome.

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Dub-C Autism Program (D-CAP) Home - WCU of PA. (n.d.). Www.wcupa.edu. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.wcupa.edu/viceProvost/dcap/

Inclusive Education. (n.d.). Western Carolina University. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.wcu.edu/learn/programs/inclusive-education-bsed/index.aspx

Morin, A. (2021, May 27). Disabilities and Chronic Conditions: How to Teach Kids About Disabilities. Verywell Family. https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-disabilities-4142349

​Pennsylvania State Guidelines for Inclusion of Students with Disabilities. (n.d.). Department of Education. https://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Assessment%20and%20Accountability/NAEP/Pages/InclusionStudentsDisabilities.aspx

Team, P. S. N. (n.d.). List and Explanation of Disabilities for Disability Awareness Month – Parenting Special Needs Magazine. Parenting Special Needs Magazine. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.parentingspecialneeds.org/article/list-and-explanation-of-disabilities-for-disability-awareness-month/