The Dehumanizing Effects of Eugenics: Disability History Lesson Plan

By Rich Cairn 

The engravings on the right of two young women are haunting. Aside from the clothing, these faces could easily be high school or college students today. Yet these images appeared in the New York Tribune in 1912 under the headline, “Eugenists Would Improve Human Stock by Blotting Out Blood Taints,” with the subheading, “Menaces to Society.” These women represent the millions of targets of eugenics. 

Teaching About the Disabled People’s Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence

By CherylAnne Amendola

"Whose Independence?" 5th grade lesson features reflections of the U.S. Declaration, including the 1989 Disabled People's Bill of Rights & Declaration of Independence - Cheryl Anne Amendola - National Middle Level Social Studies Teacher of the Year 2023. Link to slides from the lesson plan. 

Support for Teaching Disability History

Find up to date program details on teaching disability history on this page. 

By Alice Levine

Many teachers share books and videos with their students about Civil Rights, especially near MLK’s birthday in January and during Black History Month in February or as part of units of study in ELA or Social Studies.

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.

5 Ways to Teach Disability History in Social Studies Class

Kara Newhouse - KQED - Mind/Shift

In this insightful article, Newhouse explores practical approaches and resources to integrating disability history into teaching about:

Guest post by Nancy Spannaus

Origin of the American System

It is common practice to present the American System of Economics as the invention of Kentucky politician Henry Clay, who served as a leading spokesman for that policy in the Federal government from 1806 to his death in 1852. But in his advocacy for the key components of the American System–Federal protection for manufactures, national banking, and Federal support for infrastructure–Clay was actually continuing the work of First Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. 

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

Guest post by Jacqueline LaFrance