Infusing Disability History into the Classroom

By Rich Cairn & Graham Warder

In Living with Disabilities in New England, 1630-1930

Dublin Seminar for New England Folklife 2021 Annual Proceedings.

Inclusive History News

In this Issue:

October Featured Blog Posts:

• Infusing Disability History into the Classroom by Rich Cairn & Graham Warder

• Do you and your students know about the erased history of Jim Crow and Civil Rights Outside the South? 

• News of the Field 

Emerging America History eNews is now: Inclusive History News

Committed to Access and Inclusion of All Learners in Civics, History and Social Studies 

Created in response to teacher requests in 2013, the History eNews emailed monthly short descriptions and links of quality history and social studies events and resources.

Leah M. Bueso, University of Illinois Springfield, and Rich Cairn, Emerging America published a groundbreaking foundation and guide to organizing student-led civic engagement projects that are fully accessible to and inclusive of students with disabilities and all learners.

By Rich Cairn, History, Civics & Social Studies Inclusion Specialist, CES

Teaching about Disability in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era

Slides from presentation by Rich Cairn at the virtual conference: A More Perfect Union: Exploring America's Story in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, June 17, 2024

Update: August 4, 2025 - After 30 years, on June 30 Brown University abruptly shut down the Choices Program and all its curriculum and resources. 

Guest post by Max Chervin Bridge

GBH News - Boston published a story and accompanying quiz on the emerging movement to #TeachDisabilityHistory.

See the article at Teaching disability history in schools is 'long overdue,' advocates say. Teachers, community advocates, and resource leaders comment on developments in the growing field. Follow links to legislation from multiple states. 

Primary Sources and Inclusion

Purchase this new book on Teaching with Primary Sources from Teachers College Press. 

Post by Rich Cairn and Ross Newton

"Court cases are great for teaching history because they often deal with concrete details from everyday life."

- Ross Newton, High School History teacher, HEC Academy. 

A Comprehensive Approach to Full Inclusion

Effective implementation for all learners, especially the 7.5 million Special Education students in the United States, requires careful consideration of accessibility. In particular, educators must pay attention to critical accessibility principles: