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Disability Pride

Published on Fri, 08/11/2023

A young woman holds a sign that reads Disability Pride Month; she wears a t-shirt reading Easter Seals Thrive. And a photo of Judy Heumann includes the quotation: "Disability only becomes a tragedy when society fails to provide the things we need to live our lives." There is also a Disability Pride flag, explained in the article. 

Celebrating A Natural and Beautiful Part of Human Diversity

Guest post by Stephanie Polito

July marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the landmark legislation passed on July 26, 1990, that broke down barriers to inclusion in society. Disability Pride Month was first celebrated that same year, taking place in Boston, Massachusetts in the US. Celebrations follow, with the first parade taking place in Chicago in 2004.

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Developing a K-12 Disability History Curriculum

Published on Tue, 08/01/2023

A photograph of President George H.W. Bush signing the Americans with Disabilities Act into law. He is seated at a table outside, there is a fountain in the background. Four other people surround the table, three men and one woman, two men are using wheelchairs. Justin Dart sits to the president's left, wearing his trademark cowboy hat, a suit, and a button that supports the ADA on his lapel.
Reform to Equal Rights is the first ever K-12 Disability History Curriculum. The curriculum supports history and civics teachers in all settings. Lessons can stand on their own. Or teachers can integrate selections from the 200+ primary sources, and/or accessible activities, into what they already teach on topics such as impacts of wars, immigration, social movements, and changing roles of government, from the early 19th century to the 21st. The time has come to incorporate this vital history into how we teach American history. 
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New Teaching Resource: Time Out – Spotlight Offensive Language in Primary Sources

Published on Thu, 04/27/2023

silhouetted hands make a T "time out" symbol above the words, "We need to hear and discuss offensive words that appear in primary sources."

Every unit of the Reform to Equal Rights: K-12 Disability History Curriculum includes an introduction to the topic of disability, including strategies to address disrespectful vocabulary. 

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“Why didn’t they teach me this?” Preliminary Report on the Teaching of Disability History

Published on Mon, 09/12/2022

A woman in a wheelchair with an American flag, sunglasses, and a bullhorn rides down the middle of a rural highway followed by an elected official in a pickup truck.

By Rich Cairn, Emerging America

At the end of the 2021-2022 school year, Emerging America widely promoted an online survey of teachers to discover how much U.S. students are taught Disability History. Though the response was small, the results offer intriguing insights. The survey will repeat in 2023 and 2024. 

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Guest Blog Post: Content Teachers Take Your Seat at the Table

Published on Mon, 05/02/2022

A diverse group of seated teachers confer over documents.

How to empower students by participating in IEP and 504 team meetings

By Laurel Peltier, Collaborative for Educational Services

Emerging America has benefitted at key moments from Laurel's deep experience as a teacher and leader in support of students with disabilities. We are pleased to add her insights on ways that History and Civics teachers can support IEP and 504 teams to the Accessing Inquiry clearinghouse of resources.

 

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Guest Blog Post: Defining Civic Equity for Students with Disabilities

Published on Fri, 03/04/2022

Two students, a girl and a boy, each work at a table.

Updated 07-15-2022

By Leah Bueso

Civic Engagement Research Group, University of California, Riverside

 

“Disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to participate in or contribute to society.”

- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 

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Wendy Harris lesson on "How Activists Create Change" for Black History Month

Published on Wed, 02/02/2022

Black Panther Newspaper front page, with banner headline "HANDICAPPED WIN DEMANDS - END H.E.W. OCCUPATION", photos of black demonstrators in wheelchair, with sign,

Wendy Harris teaches at Metro Deaf School in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has been a classroom teacher for Deaf students of all ages since 2003 and currently splits her teaching duties between high school social studies and teaching braille and other skills to the school’s DeafBlind students ages 2-21.

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