Understanding Disability and Creating Accessibility (Gr. 3-4) by Emily Behr

Inquiry Questions

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 14:26:15 UTC

1) What does it mean to be disabled?

2) Are disabilities the same for everyone?

3) Is the word "disability" negative?

4) Is there a "best" way to learn about disabilities?

5) How do different disabilities affect people?

The Perfect Project: A Book About Autism (Tracy Packiam Alloway & Ana Sanfelippo)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 14:27:17 UTC

This realistic fiction text shows the a vignette into the life of Charlie, a boy with autism. Charlie is eager to help his group succeed with their project about trains, but the group runs into some challenges. Despite this, Charlie is able to contribute to the group and helps them win first prize. This text provides examples of how some children with autism respond to social situations, and how their needs can be accommodated in a positive and inclusive way.

Inquiry Questions

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 14:34:56 UTC

1) Do you know anyone who has a disability?

2) How would you feel if you met someone who has a disability for the first time? Why would you feel that way?

3) What does it mean to be included? What does it mean to be excluded?

4) Is it better to ignore someone's disability or focus on it?

5) How do people with disabilities feel?

Inquiry Questions

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 14:37:33 UTC

1) What problems do you notice with accessibility in our school? What about the community?

2) Does accessibility look the same for everyone?

3) What can we do as individuals to help people with disabilities?

4) How can we make big changes in the world for people with disabilities?

Inquiry Questions

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 14:41:35 UTC

1) What does it mean to be accessible?

2) How is our school accessible for people with different disabilities?

3) How is our community accessible for people with different disabilities?

4) Has the world always been accessible?

5) How did accessibility technology and laws come to be?

What Is It Like to Be Blind? (Deborah Kent)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 18:22:35 UTC

In this nonfiction text, author Debroah Kent provides insight as to how many blind people are able to go about their lives successfully. This includes discussion of tools and activities that blind children engage with. Additionally, Kent highlights the lives of five blind children, who all interact with the world in different ways. This showcases how, even when facing the same disability, all people with disabilities are not the same.

I Talk Like A River (Jordan Scott & Sydney Smith)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 18:23:37 UTC

Jordan Scott portrays his childhood relationship with his stutter in this touching picture book. When Jordan is having a "bad speech day", his father picks him up from school and takes him down to the river. There, Jordan discovers that his speech is like the river itself: crashing and churning at times, but also still and proud. Jordan's initial embarrassment and frustration with his speech shows the mental impact disabilities can have. Sydney Smith's illustrations combined with the page layout convey Jordan's feelings beautifully.

The ABCs of Inclusion (Beth Leipholtz & Anastasiya Kanavaliuk)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 18:25:08 UTC

The ABCs of Inclusion highlights 26 different children who have disabilities--including author Beth Leipholtz's own son, Cooper. Each letter of the alphabet represents one of the children's names, along with a description of their disability and who they are as a person. While the book does not delve too deeply into each child's story, it lends itself as a springboard for children to ask further questions and conduct their own research.

Down Syndrome (Michelle Levine)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 18:25:58 UTC

This informational text provides insight into Down Syndrome, including how and why it manifests, different types of Down Syndrome, and how people with Down Syndrome live their lives. Across several pages, there are commonly asked questions about Down Syndrome, inviting conversation amongst readers. Each page features photographs of different people with Down Syndrome, engaging in a wide variety of activities.

My Life With ADHD (Mari Schuh & Isabel Muñoz)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 18:27:02 UTC

Mari Schuh presents information about ADHD through the narration of a young girl named Annabelle, who recounts her daily challenges and needs. Annabelle details the different ways that her ADHD affects her life, including how she can be distracted, too alert, or become overwhelmed. She also shares how she manages her ADHD, through holistic and medicinal means. While presented in a illustrated format, Annabelle herself is a real girl with ADHD, lending a personal touch to the book for readers to connect with.

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin (Julia Finley Mosca & Daniel Rieley)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 18:29:46 UTC

Dr. Temple Grandin's story shows how people with autism (or learning differences) were treated by society, and how she was able to discover her passions and talents despite this discrimination. This text demonstrates that anyone can have an impact on the world, and that people with disabilities should not be discredited.

Thank you, Mr. Falker (Patricia Polacco)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:13:05 UTC

Thank you, Mr. Falker is a classic story of struggle, frustration, and the overwhelming impact that a single person can have on someone else's life. Patricia Polacco had significant difficulty learning to read as a young girl, which caused her a great deal of internal and external strife. With the support of her teacher, Mr. Falker, Patricia is able to learn both how to read and how to value herself. Many students can relate to Patricia's story, and find inspiration in the fact that she is now a renowned author.

Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability (Shane Burcaw)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:14:46 UTC

Shane Burcaw discusses his life with spinal muscular atrophy and answers common questions that he receives, such as how he eats or how he spends time with his friends. In addition to responding to these questions, Burcaw also details how accommodations around him make his life easier. His friends and family support him, and he has specific tools to help get around. Burcaw's humor helps readers become more comfortable with disabilities as a whole.

El Deafo (Cece Bell)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:24:04 UTC

Cece Bell's graphic novel El Deafo is witty and wholeheartedly real, capturing Bell's childhood experiences as a deaf person. After a case of meningitis as a young girl, Bell suffered from hearing loss, resulting in her needing bulky assistive technology to communicate. From frustration over her friends and family not understanding her, Bell creates an imaginary superhero persona for herself (El Deafo). Over time, she begins to find her way in the world, making true friends and accepting her disability.

A Kids Book About Disabilities (Kristine Napper)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:25:08 UTC

Kristine Napper speaks directly to the reader in this appeal for understanding and inclusivity. Presented without illustrations, the text formatting carries the weight of the message. Napper explains how people often perceive her as being abnormal, and how they speak and act around her in uncomfortable ways. She encourages the reader to be openminded and treat people with disabilities how they would like to be treated.

Sam's Super Seats (Keah Brown & Sharee Miller)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:26:21 UTC

Sam's Super Seats opens up the conversation about accessibility in public spaces for people with disabilities. The main character, Sam, has cerebral palsy and often needs time to sit and relieve her exhaustion. Her friends and mother are supportive of her needs, finding the positives in being able to take a breather. While not explicitly mentioned in the text, this book prompts the question what if there were no seats available for Sam?

All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything (Annette Bay Pimentel & Nabi H. Ali)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:28:36 UTC

This text highlights an important moment in the fight for disability rights, the Capitol Crawl. Told from the lens of Jennifer Kealan, a young girl with cerebral palsy, All the Way to the Top emphasizes the importance of taking a stand for what is right. Readers will learn about the discriminatory practices in place prior to the Americans with Disability Act being put into place, and how peaceful protest can make a change.

A Boy and a Jaguar (Alan Robinowitz & Cátia Chien)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:29:28 UTC

Author Alan Robinowitz recounts his childhood growing up with a stutter, and how he had been treated negatively by his school and society at large. After being discriminated against for his speech difficulties, Alan found comfort in his conversations with animals, discovering that his fluency improved greatly when speaking with them. As an adult involved in animal conservation, Alan must appeal to lawmakers in Belize to limit jaguar hunting--facing his stutter at the same time. This book demonstrates how challenging it was for people with disabilities to be included in society, and how they had to carve their own path to recognition and inclusion.

We Want to Go to School!: The Fight for Disability Rights (Maryann Cocca-Leffler & Janine Leffler)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:30:15 UTC

Prior to major laws being passed for the rights of people with disabilities in America, thousands of children were denied education on the basis of their disabilities. This book shares the plight of them and their families in fighting this discrimination. The events in this book lead up to the Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia case, which guaranteed children with disabilities across the country access to fair education.

Understanding Physical Disabilities (Jessica Rusick)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:31:40 UTC

Jessica Rusick outlines the nature of physical disabilities in this informational text, focusing on how assistive technologies and tools help them rather than confine them. The book discusses why these devices are necessary, and how people often perceive them as being limiting. Rusick demonstrates how to support peers with physical disabilities in the school community, and how to better understand their needs.

Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights (Diana Pastora Carson & Patrick William Connally)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:32:20 UTC

This text details the perseverance and strength of Ed Roberts, a disability rights activist. Roberts contracted Polio as a young boy, which resulted in him needing significant assistance to breathe. He and his mother fought for him to attend school, all the way through college. As time passed, he expanded his action into the fight for disability rights across the country. His contributions led to the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which granted increased rights to those with disabilities.

We Move Together (Kelly Fritsch, Anne McGuire, & Eduardo Trejos)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:33:20 UTC

We Move Together rallies readers into working together for a better world. It demonstrates how people can learn from one another and come together to make a difference. At the end of the text, specific aspects of the illustrations, including the people featured, are considered in depth.

Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion (Shannon Stocker & Devon Holzwarth)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:33:54 UTC

Listen paints the picture of Evelyn Glennie, a world-renowned percussionist who lost her hearing as a young girl. Despite this, she still loved music, and worked tirelessly to study percussion as a child. Time and time again, she was turned away because of her disability, but she managed to get people to truly listen. Because of her, music schools across Great Britain learned not to discriminate against musicians with disabilities.

I Have Cerebral Palsy (Mary Beth Springer)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:34:43 UTC

This text tells the story of Sydney, a young girl with cerebral palsy. It outlines her daily life and the accessibility devices that she uses to be successful. At the end of the book, author Mary Beth Springer goes into depth on these tools, explaining their use and importance. The book also details The Miracle League, a baseball team for children with disabilities that Sydney is a part of. This text invites readers to consider how changemakers have made the world more accessible.

A Wheelchair for Francis (Adrienne Mugwanya & Tom Kanyike)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:35:29 UTC

A Wheelchair for Francis tells the true story of Francis Mugwanya as a young boy in Uganda. After suffering from malaria and Polio as a child, Francis could no longer walk, and as such could not go to school. With the help of his family, Francis is finally able to get a wheelchair. Francis decided to dedicate himself to helping other people get mobility devices in Uganda by founding the Father's Heart Mobility Ministry.

Included: A book for all children about inclusion, diversity, disability, equality and empathy (Jayneen Sanders & Camila Carrossine)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:36:02 UTC

This inspirational picturebook tells of six children with different disabilities, and how they like to feel included and valued. Author Jayneen Sanders emphasizes the importance of asking questions and being respectful towards others, in order to create an empathetic and supportive community.

[Video #1] What it feels like to be autistic - Dr. Temple Grandin

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:43:02 UTC

In accompaniment with the text about Dr. Temple Grandin's life, it is important for readers to hear her perspectives in her voice. Dr. Grandin explains her situation as a young person, and how she still remains true to herself in making change in the world. Putting a face and a voice to an important figure helps readers contextualize her experience.

[Audio #1] Interview with Francis Mugwanya

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:43:50 UTC

In this interview, Francis Mugwanya discusses his experience with growing up as a disabled person in Uganda, as well as his mission to help other people with disabilities lead successful lives. Through his charity, he educates people on the nature of disabilities, and provides access to mobility devices like wheelchairs, crutches, and walkers.

[Video #1] Creating an Accessible Playground

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-15 19:50:12 UTC

The fifth-grade students of Glen Lake Elementary School in Hopkins, Minnesota noticed that their playground was inaccessible for many of their peers with disabilities. To combat this, they decided to hold fundraising events, and eventually were able to raise $300,000 to fund a new accessible playground for everyone.

[Text #1] The Fight for Disability Rights

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-16 13:09:50 UTC

This article relates to many of the other sources under this subtopic. It goes into detail on the history of the disability rights movement, highlighting key activists who helped to bring about change. It also makes note of how the ADA has impacted society as a whole, and how there are still many changes to be made to make the world a more accessible place.

[Text #1] Everyone Can Play

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-16 13:18:13 UTC

This TIME for Kids article showcases the efforts people like Clinton Lexa, a disability advocate who works with game developers to make video games more accessible. This includes designing customizable controllers and implementing different settings in games to accommodate different disabilities. The article includes a video of how these accessible controllers function.

[Video #2] We Are All Different - and THAT'S AWESOME! | Cole Blakeway | TEDxWestVancouverED

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-16 15:02:10 UTC

In this TED Talk, Cole Blakeway describes his relationship with inclusivity and being unique. He shares his family's connection with a man named Steven, whom his mother met when she was a young woman herself. Steven has autism, and has remained a close family friend for decades. Cole highlights the message of remaining true to yourself, and being exactly who you are meant to be.

[Text #2] Kids With Special Needs

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-16 15:13:21 UTC

In this article, readers can learn about several common disabilities, as well as how they are treated or accommodated. It reminds readers that there are people around them that may need extra support to succeed in their daily lives. An aspect of discussion after reading this article is the use of the term "special needs" and how it relates to the word "disability". What do students think is a more appropriate term, and why?

[Text #3] Disability and language (excerpt)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-16 15:26:03 UTC

This blog post, while not specifically aimed at young readers, opens an important conversation of how we think and talk about disability. Chloe Tear, the blogger behind this post, is disabled herself. Reading aloud paragraphs 2-4 ("Firstly...differently able?") to students would kickstart their thinking on this subject. Chloe emphasizes that while having a disability is challenging, it does not mean that her completing everyday tasks should be celebrated as inspirational.

[Text #2] Meet an Athlete

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-16 18:21:55 UTC

This interview showcases the experiences of Nicky Nieves, a Paralympic gold medalist. She discusses how she became involved with the sitting volleyball sport, and how Paralympic sports are not a "simplified" version of a sport. They are accessible versions that require just as much strength and endurance.

[Video #1] A Brief But Spectacular take on the disability rights movement

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-16 18:27:50 UTC

Disability rights activist Judy Heumann discusses the struggles she faced as a young girl with disabilities. She connects this with the discrimination she has continued to face into adulthood. The disability rights movement has intertwined with other rights movements in the fight against prejudice and legal discrimination.

[Text #2] "I am a child" - a poem by Cleric Tembwe

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-17 12:32:29 UTC

This powerful poem by Cleric Tembwe is an appeal for equity and understanding for all. Tembwe asks for a world in which all people with disabilities are given the chance to live to their full potential.

[Text #1] 10 Tips for Being a Friend to a Classmate with Autism Spectrum Disorder

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-17 12:41:53 UTC

While specifically in relation to children with autism, this list from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln ASD Network is relevant for building positive relationships amongst any group of young children. It stresses the importance of being a good friend, helping others understand, and treating others with kindness.

[Text #2] Same and Different: Respect for All (ADAPTED)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-17 13:06:28 UTC

This article discusses the importance of people-first language, and how individuals with disabilities should not be strictly defined by them. It makes comparisons to other physical traits that people have, such as freckles or hair color, and points out that everyone is different in certain ways. In one of the later paragraphs in the article, specific insulting words are explicitly made reference to, necessitating an adaptation to the text to make it more appropriate for the age group. Aside from this change, this article presents the ideas of awareness and inclusivity in a way that is accessible for students to understand.

[Text #1] How can you talk without speaking?

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-17 13:07:10 UTC

This article details how sign language is used as a method of communication, and why it is important for both hearing and deaf people. It positions signing as a language, highlighting the different varieties of sign languages present across the world. One feature of this article is that is provides additional resources for students to explore, including some basic ASL websites and a list of well-known people who are deaf.

[Video #1] What It's Like To Experience A Disability (Full Episode)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-17 13:16:17 UTC

In this video, several children with different disabilities are interviewed to share their experiences and perspectives. They discuss how they are perceived by others, what they enjoy, and how they would change the world if they could. The children also share their dreams for the future. This video showcases the importance of listening to the voices of disabled people themselves to better understand their experiences.

[Video #2] See what children with disabilities can do

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-17 13:19:39 UTC

While this video is brief, it shares a poignant message about how children with disabilities express themselves and interact with the world. Three children with different disabilities show their passions, not letting their differences hold them back from what they enjoy. This video is useful for opening up discussions regarding our perceptions of people with disabilities--do we seem them solely for their disability, or for who they are as a person?

[Video #2] Stories About Wheelchair Accessibility Around the World - Rolling On Trailer

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-17 13:36:08 UTC

Six wheelchair users share their stories of accessibility around the world. They discuss how many places are inaccessible for them, and how these limitations in society force them to change their entire day. They encourage people to take note of what spaces are accessible and make that information available to help assuage difficulty.

Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You (Sonia Sotomayor & Rafael López)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-17 14:21:22 UTC

This text emphasizes the importance of asking questions when it comes to things one does not fully understand. Sonia Sotomayor likens different people to different plants in a garden--some plants and people grow and need different things to flourish. Each disability is told through a narrative style, with each child asking a question to the next about how they live their lives. Readers will be inspired to ask questions and keep an open mind when interacting with people who may be different from them.

Benji, the Bad Day, and Me (Sally J. Pia & Ken Min)

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-17 14:45:23 UTC

Told from the perspective of an older sibling to a child with disabilities, this text outlines how families are often impacted by disability. Sammy is having an awful day, and it feels as if no one is giving him the attention and care he needs. All except for Benji, his younger brother with autism. This book embraces the importance of empathy, and shows how support can make a world of difference.

Engagements

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-17 14:54:27 UTC

1) As a class, students will discuss the history of disability rights and how the world has become more accessible for all people. Students will create a class Padlet to share specific takeaways regarding disability rights and the nature of accessibility. They can expand on key vocabulary terms, highlight specific moments and people in history, or share their personal thoughts and feelings.

2) With teacher guidance, students will meet with various school professionals to explore how students with disabilities are supported within the school community. Students will form into groups to decide on interview questions to gain a better understanding of their role.

3) Students will tour the school--inside and out--to explore how accommodations for people with disability are currently employed. They will take note of salient accessibility measures (e.g., braille on signs, ramps and elevators, etc.) as well as areas where they think accessibility could be improved. They will relate their findings with specific details from the texts and videos, in order to evaluate the reality of accessibility around them.

Engagements

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-17 15:14:35 UTC

1) After reviewing the selected texts and resources, students will create a comparison chart of individual and societal changes that can improve the lives of people with disabilities. They will consider how organizations and charities benefit people in need, as well as how they can inspire change as a single person.

2) In groups, students will design a call to action plan based on an identified accessibility and/or inclusion need they notice in their school community. They will consider how this problem affects individuals with specific disabilities in the school community, and develop a potential solution to mitigate it. They will organize their ideas into a presentation format of their choosing (slideshow, video, presentation board, pamphlet, etc.).

3) While creating their presentation, students will consider a stakeholder in the school community who could support their cause. Once their project is complete, they will arrange a meeting with this stakeholder to present their ideas. First, they will run a trial presentation with their peers to accumulate feedback. Using this feedback, they will meet with the stakeholder to make their case.

Engagements

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-17 15:27:29 UTC

1) After reading the supplementary texts, students will create a list of "dos" and "don'ts" of appropriate ways to interact with people with disabilities. For the "don'ts", they will discuss with a small group why they believe those actions to be insensitive, putting themselves in the shoes of someone with a disability.

2) In pairs, students will think of questions to ask fellow students with disabilities, using their knowledge of the texts. Students will meet with peers who have a disability in the school community, or students who have family members with disabilities.

3) Using specific ideas from the texts and their interviews, students will create a multimodal opinion piece on how they can actively include their peers in the community. They will refer to strategies they have learned as well as the thoughts/feelings of those they interviewed. They may also reflect on their own experiences of being included/excluded as part of a community. This piece can be in the form of prose and illustrations, a video recording of their thoughts, or a digital book.

Engagements

emilybehr1126_ — 2023-11-17 15:28:27 UTC

1) Prior to engaging with the texts, students will consider on their own experiences with disability through peer discussion and written/drawn reflection. This may include family/friends they know with disability, famous people or historical figures, or perhaps interactions they have had with people in their community. They may also come to realize that they do not know as much as their peers, or that they have had different experiences. Students will be encouraged to keep their minds and hearts open as they proceed into learning more.

2) Using the books from the text set, students will inquire into the relationships authors have with the subject matter at hand. Are the authors themselves disabled? Do they know someone with a disability? How does this affect the way they discuss disability in their book? The class will create a chart to organize this information, and will continue to add to it with each new text explored.

3) Students will engage in a Watch, Talk, Think activity using the two videos. They will view one of the videos, using response prompts to guide their thinking (e.g., "I wonder why...", "I never knew that..."). Then, they will discuss their salient thoughts with a partner, expanding upon their ideas and reactions to what they watched. After this discussion, they will choose one of the prompts given and craft a short written response that highlights their thinking. They will engage in this activity again for the second video, this time with a different partner.